News / NorthLink to investigate on board abuse
NORTHERN isles ferry operator Serco NorthLink has launched an investigation into drunken and abusive behaviour on board one of their vessels last week.
The incident came to light on Facebook from a post by Shetland-based Orkney musician Kris Drever, who gave a blow by blow account of his journey from Lerwick to Aberdeen on 18 June.
His post has so far elicited almost 150 responses, several of which report sexual harassment, theft and drunken, aggressive behaviour on board the vessels.
Islanders have long complained about a deterioration in behaviour on the NorthLink vessels since they have been used by construction workers building the new gas plant at Sullom Voe for French oil giant Total.
So far Serco NorthLink and the police have said they have no evidence of anti-social behaviour on board the vessels.
On Friday the ferry company’s managing director Stuart Garrett confirmed that they were currently investigating the incident on 18 June and “as a result, will be taking action”.
He said the company have a zero tolerance policy to both drugs and alcohol and work closely with the police to ensure passengers are fit to travel when they board the vessel.
He added: “Our staff exercise the refusal of alcohol to any passenger whose behaviour is deemed inappropriate or offensive to other passengers.
“We also continue to provide on board security presence and have no hesitation facilitating custody arrangements for those whose behaviour falls below public decency standards.”
Garrett urged passengers to raise any concerns with ferry staff to make sure they were dealt with “promptly and effectively”, saying this did not happen on this occasion.
“These infrequent incidents are taken extremely seriously as they severely undermine the great work carried out by our staff who strive to deliver a high level of quality and service at all times,” he said.
However comments added to Drever’s post suggest that ferry staff brushed off complaints from passengers, including one woman who said she was offered £200 to have sex with an oil worker and then followed to her cabin and harassed by another man.
Others complain of sexual harassment, theft of jewellery and mobile phones, and general drunken loutish behaviour.
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