We welcome deal to save BiFab marine engineering yards in Fife and on Lewis
Scottish Green MSPs today (17 Apr) welcomed a deal to save the closure-threatened engineering firm BiFab, which employs hundreds of people at marine engineering yards at Methil and Burntisland in Fife and at Arnish on Lewis.
DF Barnes, a subsidiary of Canadian company JV Driver, is to acquire BiFab, with the Scottish Government taking a minority shareholding.
Mark Ruskell, Energy spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife, said:
“Communities around the Burntisland, Methil and Arnish yards have fought hard for their future and I’m delighted that this breakthrough has been secured today. This is the strongest vote of confidence in the skills and determination of workers at the yards.
"The Scottish Government must now work to strengthen the whole offshore renewables supply chain while the UK government must get back on track by approving a strong pipeline of new offshore renewable energy projects.”
John Finnie, Rural & Island Communities spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and Highlands & Islands MSP, said:
“I am delighted that the future of BiFab’s Arnish yard has been secured. The workforce and their Trade Unions, indeed everyone involved, deserves immense credit for the incredible commitment they have shown in the face of an uncertain future in recent months.
“BiFab has been at the forefront of Scotland’s move toward a low carbon manufacturing future in recent years and I’m pleased that it will continue to play this important role in Lewis, ensuring the Highlands and Islands continues to be at the forefront of Scotland’s renewables revolution.”