NorthLink Ferries
{{Short description|Operator of ferry services between mainland Scotland and Orkney and Shetland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = NorthLink Ferries
| logo = File:Northlink serco logo.svg
| slogan =
| type =
| genre =
| foundation = 2002 (NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries)
2006 (NorthLink Ferries)
2012 (Serco NorthLink Ferries)
| founder =
| location = Aberdeen, Scotland
| area_served = Pentland Firth, Orkney and Shetland
| key_people = Stuart Garrett (Managing Director)
| industry = Transport
| products =
| services = Ferries
| market cap =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent = Serco
| divisions =
| subsid =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
NorthLink Ferries (also referred to as Serco NorthLink Ferries{{cite web|title=Serco Sets Sail
|url=http://www.sercoferries.co.uk/news/serco-sets-sail/| publisher=Serco Group plc| date=2012-07-05| accessdate=24 July 2012}}) 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
= 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2005/nr_051222_northlink_ferry.pdf |title=Scottish Executive: The NorthLink ferry services contract |accessdate=2012-07-24 |publisher=Audit Scotland |date=December 2005 }} 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.
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, 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/SPICeResources/Research%20briefings%20and%20fact%20sheets/SB07-56.pdf |title=Ferry Services in Scotland |accessdate=2012-07-24 |author=Alan Rehfisch |year=2007 |work=SPICe Briefing |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre}}File:Scotland ferries map.png
File:NorthLink ferry Hrossey leaving Aberdeen Harbour (geograph 4347282).jpg
= 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.{{cite web|title=Shortlist announced for Northern Isles Ferry Services contract|url=http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Northern-Isles-Ferry-Services-contract| publisher=Transport Scotland| date=2011-11-28| accessdate=6 July 2012}} The Scottish Government subsequently re-bundled the routes, when insufficient interest was shown in the separate routes.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}
On 4 May 2012, Transport Scotland announced that Serco was the preferred bidder.{{cite web|title=New Ferry Contract set for Northern Isles|url=http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Northern-Isles-ferry-contract-preferred-bidder| publisher=Transport Scotland| date=2012-05-04| accessdate=6 July 2012}} 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.{{cite news| title=Serco ferry contract on hold after legal challenge| url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2012/05/serco-ferry-contract-on-hold-after-legal-challenge/| newspaper=The Orcadian| date=2012-05-14| accessdate=24 July 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518120145/http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2012/05/serco-ferry-contract-on-hold-after-legal-challenge/| archive-date=18 May 2012| url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news| title=Serco confirmed as Northern Isles ferry operator| url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2012/05/serco-confirmed-as-northern-isles-ferry-operator/| newspaper=The Orcadian| date=2012-05-29| accessdate=24 July 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018195611/http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2012/05/serco-confirmed-as-northern-isles-ferry-operator/| archive-date=18 October 2012| url-status=dead}}{{cite BAILII
|litigants = Shetland Line (1984) Limited v. Scottish Ministers
|link =
|court = ScotCS
|reporter =
|scotcase = OH
|year = 2012
|volume =
|firstpage =
|num = 99
|format = 2
|parallelcite =
|date = 29 May 2012
|courtname = Court of Session
|juris = Scotland
}} The contract lasts for a period of six years and is worth £243m.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-18251727 |title=Serco confirmed as Northern Isles ferry operator |work=BBC News |date=29 May 2012 |accessdate=15 September 2014}}
Serco, using the vessels and branding of its predecessor, began operation of Northern Isles ferry services at 15:00 on 5 July 2012.{{cite news| url=http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/default.aspx.locid-00gnew3ew.Lang-EN.htm| title=Serco Sets Sail - NorthLink Ferries Service Handover Complete| date=5 July 2012| publisher=NorthLink Ferries| accessdate= 6 July 2012}} 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.{{cite web|title=Our Plans |url=http://www.sercoferries.co.uk/our-plans/| publisher=Serco Group plc |accessdate=24 July 2012}}
In the spring of 2013{{Cite web|url=http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/northlink-blog/new-look-hjaltland/|title=Serco NorthLink Ferries welcomes new look Hjaltland back to service – NorthLink Ferries|website=www.northlinkferries.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-06-26}} NorthLink rebranded and launched new on board services such as "sleep pod" reclining seats and a premium lounge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/11/21/northlink-ferries-to-get-1-million-makeover|title=NorthLink ferries to get £1 million makeover|date=2012-11-21|website=The Shetland Times|access-date=2017-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/northlink-blog/new-on-board-services-and-marketing/|title=NorthLink Ferries Launches New On Board Services and Marketing Campaign – NorthLink Ferries|website=www.northlinkferries.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-06-26}} The contract was due to end in 2018, but Serco received an 18-month extension.{{Cite web| title = Serco signs 18 month NorthLink Ferries contract extension| accessdate = 2019-04-26| url = https://www.serco.com/news/media-releases/2018/serco-signs-104-million-northlink-ferries-contract-extension}} Arguments have been put forward by the RMT union to bring the service into public ownership.{{Cite news|last=Munro|first=Alistair|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/1428626/union-calls-for-northlink-ferry-services-to-be-nationalised/|title=Union calls for Northlink ferry services to be nationalised|date=2018-03-07|work=The Press and Journal|access-date=2020-02-07}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-51398024 |title=Serco to get Northern Isles ferry contract by end of March |publisher=BBC |date=6 February 2020 |accessdate=7 February 2020 }}
Services
Current fleet
Currently the NorthLink fleet consists of:{{Cite web |title=NORTH LINK |url=https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/north_link.htm |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.faktaomfartyg.se}}{{Cite web |title=Ferries |url=https://www.cmassets.co.uk/ferries/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !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 |
| MV Hildasay
|88 trailers |1055 |12 |122.32 |Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight) |4 April 1999 |February 2010 |Astilleros de Huelva, Spain |
| MV Hjaltland
|125 |650 |600 |125 |Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick |8 March 2002 |1 October 2002 |
| MV Hrossey
|125 |650 |600 |125 |Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick |19 April 2002 |1 October 2002 |
| MV Hamnavoe
|98 |450 |600 |112 |June 2002 |23 April 2003 |
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/northern-isles-freight-ferries/ |title=Northern Isles freight ferries |work=Transport Scotland |publisher=Scottish Government |date=26 March 2019 |accessdate=28 March 2019 }}
Ferries on the Aberdeen route have onboard cinemas and occasional live entertainment.{{Cite web |title=Cinema |url=https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/the-journey/cinema/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=NorthLink Ferries |language=en-GB}}
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.{{Cite web |title=2025 Timetables |url=https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/booking-info/timetables/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=NorthLink Ferries |language=en-GB}} 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
| class="wikitable"
!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 |[https://www.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nifs-freight-vessel-concept-render.jpg 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.{{Cite web |title=Northern Isles Freight Vessels |url=https://www.cmassets.co.uk/northern-isles-freight-vessels/?lang=gd |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Northern Isles Freight Vessels |url=https://www.cmassets.co.uk/northern-isles-freight-vessels/?lang=gd |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd |language=en-US}}
Former fleet
References
=Notes=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1=Miles|last2=Smith|first2=Colin|title=Passage to the Northern Isles: Ferry Services to Orkney and Shetland 1790-2010.|date=2010|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781906608149|edition=2nd rev.}}
- {{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1=Miles|last2=Smith|first2=Colin|title=The Islands' Lifeline: NorthLink Ferries|date=2016|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781906608972}}
{{refend}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Scottish Ferry Operators}}
Category:Ferry companies of Scotland
Category:Companies based in Orkney
Category:2006 establishments in Scotland