News / Public asked to help find savings
ISLANDERS in Shetland and Orkney are being asked to contribute to a study that will have to identify around £1 million in short term savings from the existing lifeline ferry services, operated by NorthLink.
The Scottish government said on Friday that they hoped to have results from the exercise by the autumn.
The exercise has been put in place following the huge outcry earlier this year when Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson announced cutbacks in the service without any prior warning or consultation.
The work will now be overseen by a group drawn up from representatives of group drawn from the Scottish government, Orkney Islands Council, ZetTrans and NorthLink.
The options identified by the working group for consideration in the study are:
A1:
Reduce fuel consumption by slowing the vessels down (2 engine running) on the Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen route all year round or only during “low season” (late October to mid-March). This will mean either departing up to 2 hours earlier or arriving up to 2 hours later both north and south bound and at the intermediate calls at Kirkwall. The use of the additional engines would still be available in case of delays or when sea and weather conditions require them.
A2:
Tie-up MV Hjaltland or MV Hrossey for the “low season” and run 3 North (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) and 3 South (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) sailings per week on the Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen service. This is the timetable that currently operates during the annual maintenance period (for about 6 weeks). Freight ship frequency is increased during this period.
A3:
As A2, but using the single passenger vessel more intensively on the Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen route, operating 5 north bound and 5 south bound sailings per week maintaining the Friday and Sunday calls at Kirkwall. The timetable includes a mixture of daytime and overnight sailings and would be integrated with the freight ships timetable. The following is an indicative timetable:
Monday – Lerwick (depart 1900) – Aberdeen (arrive 0700)
Tuesday – Aberdeen (d. 0900) – Lerwick (a. 1900) | Lerwick (d. 2100) – Aberdeen (a. 0700)
Wednesday – Aberdeen (d. 0900) – Lerwick (a. 1900) | Lerwick (d. 2100) – Aberdeen (a. 0700)
Thursday – Aberdeen (d. 1900) – Lerwick (a. 0730)
Friday – Lerwick (d. 1730) – Kirkwall (a. 2300) – Aberdeen (a. 0700)
Saturday – Aberdeen (d. 0900) – Lerwick (a. 1900) | Lerwick (d. 1900) – Aberdeen (a. 0700)
Sunday – Aberdeen (d. 1700) – Kirkwall (a. 2300) – Lerwick (a. 0730)
A4:
Extend sailing time on freight ship between Aberdeen and Lerwick (northbound only) to reduce fuel all year. Departure time would remain as 18.00 with the arrival time extended to 12.00 noon the following day.
A5:
Extend crossing time to save fuel on direct services between Aberdeen and Lerwick (both directions) all year. Once out of port, Hjaltland and Hrossey can regularly operate for much of the voyage on a single engine in order to maximise fuel efficiency. Increasing the potential for using this fuel efficient mode of operation for longer would mean direct services between Aberdeen and Lerwick would now depart at 17.00 instead of 19.00 to maintain the current arrival times. The additional engines would still be available in case of delays or when sea and weather conditions require them.
A6:
Remove 11.00 sailing from Stromness and the 13.15 sailing from Scrabster during the low season (late October to mid-March).
A7:
Withdraw some Kirkwall calls from the Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen route. The starting point would be to look at withdrawing the services with lowest utilisation.
A8:
Review potential to apply different levels of fare increases to different user groups i.e. differentiate between Island residents and visitors and set different rates to cars, cabins, freight, high/mid/low season etc. Historically fare increases have been a fixed percentage applied to all fares. If more revenue is received from users of the services, then the pressure for service changes to be made can be reduced.
Mr Stevenson said: “It is vital that the Orkney and Shetland communities are able to play their part in contributing to long term sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
“These lifeline services provide a vital transport link and it is important that we look at how we can continue to provide a cost effective and efficient service within the current challenging economic climate.”
People can also contribute their views by email to nifconsultation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to: Scottish Government, Ferries Division, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.
The deadline for making comments to the Scottish Government is Tuesday 31 August 2010.
This study is looking at potential savings from the existing services.
In parallel, the current public consultations on the Scottish Ferries Review and the next northern isles ferry contract are looking at the provision of services over the longer-term.
Further information is available on the Scottish Government website at the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/NIS
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