Transport officials came close to buying freight vessel Arrow

TRANSPORT officials were very close to buying a second hand freight vessel for the Northern Isles before the “rug was pulled from under our feet”, a meeting has heard.

Transport Scotland’s Alan McCabe said the government agency was close to purchasing the MV Arrow, which has been used for relief shifts on the Northern Isles in the past, to add extra capacity.

But the vessel eventually was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which had chartered it previously, for around £8 million in September.

Transport Scotland has always said it remains on the lookout for additional tonnage to deal with capacity constraints on the Northern Isles ferry service.

McCabe said the deal to buy the Arrow fell through at the “very last minute”.

The meeting heard that the Isle of Man company ended up having first option on the vessel.

Kevin Hobbs from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), the corporation which owns the Scottish Government’s ferries, said the team was “thoroughly disappointed” to miss out on the boat.

He added second hand boats continue to be suggested to them by owners and shipbrokers.