NorthLink in talks with government

FOLLOWING news that plans to award the six year northern isles ferry contract to multinational services company Serco have been put on hold, current operators NorthLink have moved to reassure travellers the service will continue as normal for the time being.

On Friday Streamline Shipping Group submitted a legal challenge to the Court of Session to the government’s decision to hand the £243 million ferry contract to Serco.

The company said they had received feedback that their tender had been higher quality than the successful bid and would have fully met the demands of the northern isles.

There is growing concern in the isles that Serco’s bid involved a significant cut to the current freight service.

The government had planned to seal the contract with Serco on Tuesday, but that plan can no longer proceed as a result of Streamline’s move.

On Saturday NorthLink said they were in “continuing discussions” with the Scottish government “to clarify certain aspects of the procurement process” that led to Serco winning the contract on 4 May.

NorthLink’s current contract to operate the service runs out on 5 July, but any handover is likely to be delayed now that a legal challenge has been lodged.

A NorthLink spokesman said: “Today we seek to reassure customers that we will continue to provide our high quality ferry service to the islands for as long as it takes to resolve the current issues”.

He added: “Also, we wish to put on record our appreciation of the on-going commitment of staff as they continue to meet customer needs during this period of uncertainty.”