It seems that shipbuilders BaE (Big and Expensive) are well on their way to having the world’s largest navy…of ships they finish building just before the owners decide they don’t want them any longer through project overruns, shoddy management and spiralling costs.

Famously just avoiding ending up with a spare aircraft carrier last month through Gordoom’s voter-bribery crimes, they’ve gone one (or three) better this time.

Two Clyde-built ships at the centre of an international row will be taken to Portsmouth next month where they will remain anchored indefinitely. The decision comes as attempts are made to persuade government ministers in the Caribbean to allow shipyard bosses in Glasgow to find another buyer rather than face costly court action.

The move follows a decision by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to refuse delivery of both vessels and a third sister ship which were ordered in an effort to halt drug trafficking and gun running between Caribbean islands.

But the three offshore patrol vessels have triggered a major row between the republic’s newly elected People’s Partnership Government and BAE Systems Surface Ships. BAE, which owns the Govan and Scotstoun yards, built the Scarborough, the San Fernando and the Port of Spain.

But Caribbean ministers have cancelled the £150 million contract ordered by the previous government, accusing shipyard bosses of cost over-runs and construction delays.

However, there is optimism in UK Government circles that their Caribbean counterparts could be persuaded to end the row by allowing BAE to find another buyer. Such a deal is also likely to involve yard bosses agreeing to stump up tens of millions of pounds in compensation.

Can BaE get anything right? It’s about time we considered building a few ship hulls overseas and brought them back just to fit the secret bits….it’d focus the minds of a few people who think they deserve jobs for life.