NorthLink Ferries (also referred to as Serco NorthLink Ferries) 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, 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.
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. The Scottish Government subsequently re-bundled the routes, when insufficient interest was shown in the separate routes.
On 4 May 2012, Transport Scotland announced that Serco was the preferred bidder. 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. 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. The contract was for a period of six years and was worth £243m.
Serco, using the vessels and branding of its predecessor, began operation of Northern Isles ferry services at 15:00 on 5 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.
In the spring of 2013 NorthLink rebranded and launched new on board services such as "sleep pod" reclining seats and a premium lounge. The contract was due to end in 2018, but Serco received an 18-month extension. Arguments have been put forward by the RMT union to bring the service into public ownership.
Transport Scotland awarded Serco a new contract to operate the Northern Isles ferry services in April 2020. The contract began on 30 June 2020 for an initial term of six years, with an option to extend for a further two years. In June 2026, Transport Scotland announced that the tender process for the successor contract had begun, with a planned contract commencement date of 30 June 2028.
Services NorthLink operates two passenger routes: Scrabster to Stromness, Orkney (90 minutes) Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland (12 hours 30 minutes northbound; 12 hours southbound). Some services also call at Kirkwall, Orkney, which increases the journey time by 2 hours.
Current fleet Currently the NorthLink fleet consists of: +NameCarsLane metresPassengersLength (metres)RouteLaunchedEntered serviceShipbuildersImageMV Helliar88 trailers105512122.32Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)13 November 199610 January 2011Astilleros de Huelva, SpainMV Hildasay88 trailers105512122.32Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)4 April 1999February 2010Astilleros de Huelva, SpainMV Hjaltland125650600125Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick8 March 20021 October 2002Aker Finnyards, FinlandMV Hrossey125650600125Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick19 April 20021 October 2002Aker Finnyards, FinlandMV Hamnavoe98450600112Scrabster - StromnessJune 200223 April 2003Aker Finnyards, Finland 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.
Ferries on the Aberdeen route have onboard cinemas and occasional live entertainment.
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. 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 NameLane metresPassengersLength (metres)RouteEntered serviceShipbuildersImageFreight flex vessel 11400200 or 12140Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight plus)2029GuangzhouDigital RenderFreight flex vessel 21400200 or 12140Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight plus)2029Guangzhou The vessels will operate on two modes, passenger mode is peak times (and when the other vessel is dry docking), and freight mode during the low season. They will also be capable of operating at two service speeds of 14 and 20 knots. On 4 June 2025, funding was allocated for these two new freight flex vessels. A contract was awarded to Guangzhou Shipyard (China) in March 2026.
Former fleet NameCarsPassengersLength (metres)RouteLaunchedEntered serviceLeft serviceShipbuildersImageMV Hascosay636 lane metres12118.42Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)2 July 19711 October 2002February 2010Kristiansands M/VA/S, Kristiansand, NorwayMV Hebridean Isles (Charter from CalMac)6850785.15Scrabster - Stromness4 July 19851 Oct 2002Feb 2004Jan 2005April 2003Feb 2004Feb 2005Cochrane Shipbuilders, SelbyMV St Rognvald (Charter from P&O Scottish Ferries)696 lane metres26103.76Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)4 September 1970July 2003December 2003Orestein & Koppel, Lübeck, West GermanyMV Clare65 trailers12114.86Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)6 May 1972November 2003December 2010Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, GermanyMV MN Toucan (Charter from Compagnie Maritime Nantaise)12115.5Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)19952 April 200716 April 2007HC Holland Kinderdijk Kinderdijk, HollandMV Arrow (Charter from Seatruck Ferries)88 trailers12122.32Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Freight)26 January 1998Feb 2012Oct 2014Nov 2017Sept 2018Jan 2020June 2020Mar 2012Nov 2014Nov 2017Oct 2018Jan 2020June 2020Astilleros de Huelva, Spain
References Notes
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