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Northlink Ferries future
SHETLAND Islands Council is to hold a public meeting to discuss the future of the lifeline ferry service to the northern isles.
The meeting, it is hoped, will kick start the debate on the service in the wake of the Northern Maritime Corridor (NMC) report, which criticises the current vessels serving the route as the "most inefficient and environmentally unfriendly ships built in recent years".
Councillor Gussie Angus who represents the local authority on the NMC said yesterday (Thursday) that it was important to have all stakeholders involved.
He said that the council was looking into holding a "forum" to discuss the issues raised in the report by Dr Alf Baird, of Napier University.
Councillor Angus added that Scottish transport minister and isles MSP Tavish Scott would also be invited to the meeting that would be held at some stage during February.
Meanwhile, the current operator of the ferries, Northlink Ferries, has expressed its surprise over the findings of the NMC report.
A spokesman said: "The claim in the report that the vessels are 'not fit for purpose' surprises us. The vessels were designed to the specification laid down by the Scottish Executive.
"The Orkney and Shetland councils each had significant input to the specification detail. A key component of this specification, agreed in advance by islands' local authority stakeholders, was that Aberdeen should remain the principal mainland port of call. The dimensions of Aberdeen harbour dictated the size of the two vessels which operate out of there."
In his report, Dr Baird argued that single freight deck boats carrying passengers were a waste of money.
The report reads: "Compared with other ropax ferries of over 120m in length, Hjaltland/Hrossey appear to be two of the most inefficient and environmentally unfriendly ships built in recent years by virtue of their single freight deck, extremely high installed power, and hence very high fuel consumption relative to payload."
The meeting, it is hoped, will kick start the debate on the service in the wake of the Northern Maritime Corridor (NMC) report, which criticises the current vessels serving the route as the "most inefficient and environmentally unfriendly ships built in recent years".
Councillor Gussie Angus who represents the local authority on the NMC said yesterday (Thursday) that it was important to have all stakeholders involved.
He said that the council was looking into holding a "forum" to discuss the issues raised in the report by Dr Alf Baird, of Napier University.
Councillor Angus added that Scottish transport minister and isles MSP Tavish Scott would also be invited to the meeting that would be held at some stage during February.
Meanwhile, the current operator of the ferries, Northlink Ferries, has expressed its surprise over the findings of the NMC report.
A spokesman said: "The claim in the report that the vessels are 'not fit for purpose' surprises us. The vessels were designed to the specification laid down by the Scottish Executive.
"The Orkney and Shetland councils each had significant input to the specification detail. A key component of this specification, agreed in advance by islands' local authority stakeholders, was that Aberdeen should remain the principal mainland port of call. The dimensions of Aberdeen harbour dictated the size of the two vessels which operate out of there."
In his report, Dr Baird argued that single freight deck boats carrying passengers were a waste of money.
The report reads: "Compared with other ropax ferries of over 120m in length, Hjaltland/Hrossey appear to be two of the most inefficient and environmentally unfriendly ships built in recent years by virtue of their single freight deck, extremely high installed power, and hence very high fuel consumption relative to payload."
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