Trade unions have expressed renewed optimism over the future of the troubled BiFab yards, despite the loss of hundreds of jobs.
GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith and Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of Unite, said they were satisfied new owner DF Barnes was committed to the three yards, including two in Fife.
The Canadian company took over BiFab in a rescue deal in April but laid off all but seven part-time staff.
With no new contracts earmarked for the yards, DF Barnes has been urged to reveal its plans to bring work back to Methil and Burntisland.
The union leaders travelled to Canada this week to seek assurances from company bosses.
In a joint statement released on Friday, Mr Smith and Mr Rafferty said: “Our meetings with the company and its owner over the past couple of days have satisfied us as to the company’s commitment to the Scottish yards and their determination to make those yards a success for the short and the long term.”
They added: “For all the wind turbines that we have in Scotland, the fact is the manufacturing supply change is almost non-existent.
“We are satisfied now that the Canadian acquisition of BiFba is a unique opportunity to address the lack of a manufacturing supply chain in the Scottish renewables sector.”
Mr Smith and Mr Rafferty said they had received assurances from DF Barnes that it was committed to working with unions to create a successful business with highly skilled jobs in Scotland.
“We have been clear that our number one priority is creating jobs at these yards for people in Fife and Lewis and, to do this, it is now pressing and vital that we secure contracts for the yards which BiFab are currently tendering for.”
