Ferguson Shipbuilders, which employs 300 people, beat off strong worldwide competition to win the order to build a new anchor handling and tug supply vessel for Stirling Shipping. It will be the fifth supply vessel to be built by Ferguson for Stirling Shipping over the last five years. Ferguson completed a similar vessel for the company earlier this year and has now won orders totalling £75m.

The new vessel will be an 'enhanced' version of the Stirling Iona delivered to Stirling Shipping earlier this year. James Cowderoy, Managing Director of Stirling Shipping said, "We are very pleased with the performance of MV Stirling Iona, which was delivered to us by Ferguson Shipbuilders earlier this year. The satisfaction of our customers and vessel crews with this vessel and Ferguson Shipbuilders' past track record has given us the confidence to return to Ferguson's to build an enhanced sister vessel."