NorthLink Ferries

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". NorthLink Ferries (also referred to as Serco NorthLink Ferries[1]) is an operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, as well as ferry services, between mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Since July 2012, it has been operated by international services company Serco.

History

File:Northlink ferries logo.svg
NorthLink Ferries logo used from 2002 to 2013

NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries

The subsidised Northern Isles ferry services, previously run by P&O Scottish Ferries, were put out to tender in 1999. A joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and The Royal Bank of Scotland, named NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries, won the contract and began operation in October 2002.

A variety of factors, including competition from rival operator Pentland Ferries, the Norse Island Ferries group created by local hauliers concerned about NorthLink's proposed freight pricing, and higher-than-expected operation costs,[2] all contributed to financial difficulties within the company. In response, the Scottish Executive Transport Group (now Transport Scotland) made additional subsidy payments of £0.6 million and agreed to restructure subsidy payment timing.[2]

In mid-2003 the company indicated that it would be unlikely to complete the contract due to its ongoing financial difficulties. NorthLink defaulted on its lease payments for the vessels in July and August 2003,[2] and in April 2004 the then Scottish Executive announced that the service would be re-tendered due to NorthLink's inability to fulfil the terms of its contract.

The company continued to operate under interim arrangements until April 2006 while a new contract was secured.

NorthLink Ferries Limited

On 19 July 2005, the Scottish Executive announced that three companies - V-Ships, Irish Continental Ferries and Caledonian MacBrayne - had bid to provide ferry services to the Northern Isles. Irish Continental, however, withdrew its bid in October 2005, leaving two potential operators on the closing date of 1 December 2005. Both of the remaining bids complied with the contract requirements, but Caledonian MacBrayne's lower bid meant that it was awarded the contract.

Caledonian MacBrayne formed a company named NorthLink Ferries Limited, which adopted the branding and vessels of its predecessor, and began operating the Northern Isles ferry services on 6 July 2006.[3]

File:Scotland ferries map.png
Map of ferry services in Scotland
File:NorthLink ferry Hrossey leaving Aberdeen Harbour (geograph 4347282).jpg
MV Hrossey departing Aberdeen Harbour, Scotland. Current fleet branding in use since Spring 2013.

Serco NorthLink Ferries

The Northern Isles ferry service was re-tendered in 2011/12 as NorthLink Ferries Limited's contract came to an end.

Initially, the contract's two services (Aberdeen-Lerwick and Scrabster-Stromness) were to be de-bundled. Eligible bids for the services were received from Pentland Ferries (which expressed interest in the Scrabster-Stromness service only), Sea-Cargo A/S (which expressed interest in the Aberdeen-Lerwick service only), P&O Ferries, Shetland Line (1984) Limited (part of local haulage and freight company Streamline Shipping Group), Serco, and the incumbent NorthLink Ferries Limited.[4] The Scottish Government subsequently re-bundled the routes, when insufficient interest was shown in the separate routes.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

On 4 May 2012, Transport Scotland announced that Serco was the preferred bidder.[5] This decision was legally challenged in the Court of Session by rival bidder Shetland Line (1984) Limited on the basis that the Scottish Government had allegedly not taken into account that they had scored higher than Serco for their proposed service - suspending the securement of the contract.[6] On 29 May 2012 however, the court overturned the suspension and Serco was confirmed as the new operator, ending Caledonian MacBrayne's 10 year involvement with Northern Isles ferry services.[7][8] The contract lasts for a period of six years and is worth £243m.[9]

Serco, using the vessels and branding of its predecessor, began operation of Northern Isles ferry services at 15:00 on 5 July 2012.[10] It stated that it planned to make no changes to fares or timetables for the remainder of 2012, and that it planned to "overhaul catering, seating and onboard entertainment" in future.[11]

In the spring of 2013[12] NorthLink rebranded and launched new on board services such as "sleep pod" reclining seats and a premium lounge.[13][14] The contract was due to end in 2018, but Serco received an 18-month extension.[15] Arguments have been put forward by the RMT union to bring the service into public ownership.[16] In February 2020, Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, announced that NorthLink's contract would be re-awarded by the end of March.[17]

Services

NorthLink operates two passenger routes:[18]

Current fleet

Currently the NorthLink fleet consists of:[19][20]

Name Cars Lane metres Passengers Length (metres) Route Launched Entered Service Shipbuilders Image
MV Helliar 88 trailers 1055 12 122.32 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 13 November 1996 10 January 2011 Astilleros de Huelva, Spain File:MV Helliar at Blaikie's Quay, Aberdeen.jpg
MV Hildasay 88 trailers 1055 12 122.32 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 4 April 1999 February 2010 Astilleros de Huelva, Spain File:Hildasay passing knab.jpg
MV Hjaltland 125 650 600 125 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick 8 March 2002 1 October 2002 Aker Finnyards, Finland File:Hjaltland IMG 4502 (29312630696).jpg
MV Hrossey 125 650 600 125 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick 19 April 2002 1 October 2002 Aker Finnyards, Finland File:Hrossey (18112809384).jpg
MV Hamnavoe 98 450 600 112 Scrabster - Stromness June 2002 23 April 2003 Aker Finnyards, Finland File:Hamnavoe (15081755600).jpg

Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland purchased all of the ferries used by Northlink during the 2018-19 financial year. They will be managed by Scottish Government corporation Caledonian Maritime Assets.[21]

Ferries on the Aberdeen route have onboard cinemas and occasional live entertainment.[22]

MV Hrossey, MV Hjaltland, MV Helliar, and MV Hildasay have all carried out relief on the Pentland Firth in previous years, however the routine now is to cancel the route for the period of the dry docking of MV Hamnavoe.[23] In April 2010 due to the volcanic ash cloud, MV Hamnavoe carried out a one off Aberdeen - Bergen return trip and Aberdeen - Stromness.

Future fleet

Name Lane metres Passengers Length (metres) Route Entered Service Shipbuilders Image
Freight flex vessel 1 1400 200 or 12 140 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight plus) 2029 TBD Feb 2026 Digital Render
Freight flex vessel 2 1400 200 or 12 140 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight plus) 2029 TBD Feb 2026

The vessels will operate on two modes, passenger mode is peak times and during dry docking periods and freight mode during the low season. They will also be capable of operating at two service speeds of 14 and 20 knots.[24] On 4 June 2025, funding has been allocated for these two new freight flex vessels with the intention of awarding the contract in February 2026.[25]

Former fleet

Name Cars Passengers Length (metres) Route Launched Entered Service Left Service Shipbuilders Image
MV Hascosay 636 lane metres 12 118.42 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 2 July 1971 1 October 2002 February 2010 Kristiansands M/VA/S, Kristiansand, Norway File:MV Hascosay at Stornoway - geograph.org.uk - 4754721.jpg
MV Hebridean Isles (Charter from CalMac) 68 507 85.15 Scrabster - Stromness 4 July 1985 1 Oct 2002
Feb 2004
Jan 2005 		April 2003
Feb 2004
Feb 2005 		Cochrane Shipbuilders, Selby File:MV Hebridean Isles at Scrabster.jpg
MV St Rognvald (Charter from P&O Scottish Ferries) 696 lane metres 26 103.76 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 4 September 1970 July 2003 December 2003 Orestein & Koppel, Lübeck, West Germany
MV Clare 65 trailers 12 114.86 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 6 May 1972 November 2003 December 2010 Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany File:View towards Holmsgarth from Hay's Docl - geograph.org.uk - 1180428.jpg
MV MN Toucan (Charter from Compagnie Maritime Nantaise) 12 115.5 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 1995 2 April 2007 16 April 2007 HC Holland Kinderdijk Kinderdijk, Holland [26]
MV Arrow (Charter from Seatruck Ferries)[27][28][29] 88 trailers 12 122.32 Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) 26 January 1998 Feb 2012
Oct 2014
Nov 2017
Sept 2018
Jan 2020
June 2020 		Mar 2012
Nov 2014
Nov 2017
Oct 2018
Jan 2020
June 2020 		Astilleros de Huelva, Spain File:2018-05-12 02 MS ARROW off Douglas, UK.jpg

References

Notes

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  8. ↑ Shetland Line (1984) Limited v. Scottish Ministers [2012] CSOH 99 (29 May 2012), Court of Session (Scotland)
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Bibliography

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External links

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Template:Scottish Ferry Operators

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