https://news.stv.tv/politics/calmac-were-getting-the-types-of-ferries-we-wanted
From stewartb
Given the recent comparison made here on TuS between BBC Scotland and STV’s coverage of Scottish politics, it’s worth highlighting this case.
The ‘unwanted’ ferries
The troubled CalMac ferries contract at Ferguson Marine has been much in the news over recent months and is the subject of a Scottish Parliamentary Committee enquiry. BBC Scotland online reported a particular – on the face of it damning – claim on 5th February under this headline:
‘CalMac ‘did not want troubled ferry design’
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51388124
It reported: “Ferry operator CalMac did not want the type of vessel that is being built for it in a project that is now behind schedule and over budget, an inquiry has heard. … a Holyrood committee was told the chief executive of CalMac admitted he did not want LNG ferries. The claim was made by Luke van Beek, a former Scottish government adviser.”
A similar headline was repeated elsewhere by BBC Scotland on the same day: “Ferry operator CalMac was offered ships it ‘didn’t want’”
Here it reported Mr van Beek stating: “I had a meeting with CalMac, the previous chief executive of CalMac, who had told me in that meeting that the two ships, 801 and 802, were not the ships they wanted – in particular they did not want LNG fuel”.’
Unlike BBC Scotland online, I can’t find evidence of STV online making as much of this claim at the time. However, on 4th March STV helpfully reported on the most recent evidence to the enquiry – and in the process filled a vacuum on the matter seemingly left by BBC Scotland (unless you know different!) .
The ‘wanted’ ferries
Providing some overall journalistic balance for us consumers of news in Scotland, STV published an article under the headline: “CalMac: We’re getting the types of ferries we wanted – Bosses at the ferry operator refuted claims that they ‘didn’t want’ the dual-fuel vessels being built for it.” [Wordpress doesn’t like the STV url so posted as comment below].
The STV article reports: ‘At latest session of the inquiry on Wednesday, CalMac’s managing director Robbie Drummond – …. – confirmed he had met Mr van Deek. Mr Drummond said: “We had a discussion around LNG… on some of the complexities around training and regulation for LNG but that was the extent of it.” He added: “Our specification required dual fuel so we put that in our specification, that’s what we wanted”.’
Drummond is reported as adding: “LNG is a fuel that is used widely through the Scandinavian ferry fleet.” “It’s a very normal technology, it’s used widely in the shipping industry and its use is going to increase into the future until alternative technologies become closer.”
Of course, those not involved have little chance of knowing how to judge this matter: the MSPs on the Committee will no doubt come to a view in due course.
However, do you ever wonder what criteria BBC Scotland online might use to decide when NOT to follow up a news story it has previously thought important?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
https://news.stv.tv/politics/calmac-were-getting-the-types-of-ferries-we-wanted
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That’s what I call a humdinger John! I’ve watched some of the committee discussions on the ferries, and the main thing that came across to me was – why would the contractor sign a contract that they believed had insufficient detail?
I listened to all the excuses, and none of them made any sense.
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Stewart’s humdinger!
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Apologies Stewart – and thanks for putting the two stories together.
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