Luke van Beek says the problems that occurred at the time of his report were well understood by the yard.

The former independent adviser to the Scottish government on shipbuilding explains says the issues were around design maturity.

Mr van Beek tells the committee he is not saying there was anything wrong with the plan but the issue was resource.

Mr Finnie asks if there was deficiency in technical expertise, to which the shipbuilding adviser replies that in the loosest sense Fergusons was short two ship managers, so yes there was some deficiency in technical expertise but they had plans to address it.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks if there was any look back to see when Ferguson's won the contract from the government they would have had the resources.

Mr van Beek says his initial contact with the Scottish government was to undertake a gateway for review for Transport Scotland.

He says they decided not to do that, but if that gateway had been done what Mr Rumbles would be looked at.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman says the committee heard that there was not enough room dockside to build the two ferries side by side.

Mr Van Beek says there one ship on the slipway and one in the water so I can't answer the question.

Image source, bbc

Bosses at Ferguson shipyard were to blame for the delay and spiralling cost of two new CalMac ferries, according to the chief executive of the government agency which placed the orders.

Kevin Hobbs, of CMAL, also rejected calls for the unfinished ferries to be scrapped and the work started again.

The vessels are £100m over budget and likely to be three years overdue.

Jim McColl, the former chairman of the Inverclyde shipyard, has previously blamed CMAL for the fiasco.

Read more here.

Green MSP John Finnie gets the questioning underway asking if Ferguson Marine had what was necessary to deliver the two ferries to budget and timescale.

Mr van Beek said he was in no doubt they had the management expertise and a good shipbuilding system in place, bearing in mind he started in June 2018.

The resources at the time were not in accordance with the plan, but they had the approach of increasing them and that happened successfully, he says.

Cashflow began to cause problems causing a significant slowdown in the project, says Mr van Beek.

He says there were concerns around the design issues of the two ships.

Luke van Beek, former independent adviser to the Scottish government on shipbuilding, explains he was taken on by the department of economic development to provide assurance that the revised shipbuilding programme was being kept to.

In particular that it was in accord with the overall resource programme, he explains.

Mr van Beek says he is a procurement expert, ex-Royal Navy and also a cabinet office assessor of high risk government projects.

Committee convener Edward Mountain introduces Luke van Beek, former independent adviser to the Scottish Government on shipbuilding.

Mr van Beek was appointed by economy secretary Derek Mackay to report back on the state of the project, with advice on whether government loans should be released.

In a private report to ministers released under Freedom of Information law in October, Mr van Beek said that the breakdown of relations between the client and the shipbuilder should be addressed through mediation, and he advised against nationalisation of the yard.

Image source, Getty Images

The Rural Economy Committee, external will shortly quiz the industrialist Jim McColl, who was chairman of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd where the two over budget and delayed CalMac ferries were being built before it collapsed and was nationalised.

Industrialist Jim McColl has since spoken out against the Scottish government's plan to spend at least £110m on the part-finished ferries. He'll be joined by the former CEO of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd, Gerry Marshall.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will begin by taking evidence from Luke van Beek, former independent adviser to the Scottish government on shipbuilding, who has been critical of the nationalisation of the shipyard.

Read the committee papers here.

Read more about the inquiry here., external

Welcome to BBC Scotland's Holyrood Live coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 5 February 2020.

MSPs will quiz the man who was at the helm of Ferguson Shipyard where the two over cost and delayed CalMac ferries were being built before it collapsed and was nationalised.

Industrialist Jim McColl has since spoken out against the Scottish government's plan to spend at least £110m on the part-finished ferries. He will be joined by Gerry Marshall, the former CEO of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will also hear from Luke van Beek, former independent adviser to the Scottish Government on shipbuilding, who has been critical of the nationalisation of the shipyard.

Image source, Getty Images

The afternoon in the chamber looks like this:

1.30 pm: Portfolio Questions: Finance, Economy and Fair Work; Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform

2.10-2.40 pm: Ministerial Statement: The New Transport Strategy for Scotland – Protecting our Climate and Improving Lives

2.40-3.10 pm: Ministerial Statement: Independent Care Review (10mins statement, 20mins questions)

3.10 - 5.30 pm: Conservative Party Debate: Finance – a warm up for the budget tomorrow

5.30-6.30 pm: Stage 3 Debate: Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill

6.35 pm: Members’ Business:Gordon MacDonald – Cheyne Gang Singing Group