Two huge pumps have had to be replaced on the SNP’s scandal-hit Glen Sannox ferry – with the parts cannibalised from sister vessel Glen Rosa before either vessel has even been put into service.

We told you last week how components have been moved from one to the other, in the latest farce to hit the years-late lifeline ferries, leading to concerns about further delays to the project.

It can now be revealed that more parts have been moved in recent weeks, including two 6ft pumps that have been moved from Glen Rosa’s generator room to the sister ship’s.

Meanwhile, with Glen Sannox delivery finally on the immediate horizon, it can also be revealed that interior paintwork has been deemed so sloppy that it may need to be redone.

Inspections revealed that spray painting in key areas, such as the engine room, was done without the sections being properly cleaned, with the coating sprayed over foreign objects, including dirt, tie-wraps, bolts and screws.

Glen Sannox had to replace the pumps

This has led to concerns that the paint may not adhere properly to the vital machine parts, making them potentially susceptible to corrosion or rust.

Glen Sannox will also go to Birkenhead, Merseyside, for a service on December 3 although it has yet to carry a single passenger.

The ferries, which are being built at Ferguson Marine’s shipyard in Port Glasgow, which was nationalized by the SNP in 2019, are more than £200m over budget, with the cost of each vessel now estimated at around £150m.

The project would cost £97 million.

A source said: “The pumps are substantial machines and it was a big job to get them out of Glen Rosa and on to Glen Sannox.

– The painting in the large engine rooms, the engine room and the generator room, is also a mess and needs to be fixed.

“The area was not cleaned properly and they sprayed over nuts, bolts, dirt – you name it.

“It even has a wire brush stuck in the paint. The parts were assembled before they were painted, so the sequencing was all wrong.’

The painting on the ship was considered sloppy

A wire brush painted into a wall at Glen Sannox

Tory transport spokeswoman Sue Webber said: “Betrayed islanders could be forgiven for thinking the SNP’s ferry scandal will never end.

“This latest astonishing development beggars belief, but at the same time sums up the gross incompetence surrounding the completion of these lifeline vessels.

“SNP ministers simply do not understand when it comes to the effect of these endless delays on islanders and their local economy.

“Instead of continuing to focus on side issues at Holyrood, they should be doing everything they can to get these ferries delivered once and for all.”

Launched in 2017, Glen Sannox has been sitting in the water for seven years waiting to be completed, while Glen Rosa only hit the water for the first time in April.

The ferries were tasked with operating the vital Ardrossan to Arran route and their delay has led to serious consequences for the islanders and Arran’s economy.

Work on both ferries began in 2016, with the Glen Sannox launched to much fanfare by then minister Nicola Sturgeon the following year.

False windows had been painted over to give the impression that the ferry’s construction was longer than it was, and both ships have since had problem after problem.

Glen Sannox was due to enter service in 2018 but is still a work in progress with its latest expected delivery date not yet announced.

There is no date for when Glen Rosa will be delivered.

Ferguson Marine said that, as part of “a final action list, some paint needs to be redone or touched up”.

It added: “Earlier this year parts were taken from the MV Glen Rosa for use on the MV Glen Sannox.

“Given that we will soon be handing over Glen Sannox, it was a quicker approach than ordering spares or fixing them.

“It will not delay the delivery of Glen Rosa.”

Operator Caledonian MacBrayne said: “MV Glen Sannox is scheduled for annual maintenance on 3 December.

“While it may seem less than ideal to commission the ship and then add her soon after, December is the best time of year for her overhaul in conjunction with the wider fleet schedule.”