Transport Scotland to assess Hjaltland situation after dry dock delay

TRANSPORT Scotland says it will make an assessment of the situation regarding the NorthLink ferry Hjaltland after it was delayed in returning from annual dry dock.

Two sailings between Aberdeen and Lerwick – including one stop-off in Kirkwall – were cancelled as a result on Sunday and Monday.

The Hjaltland made her way from dry dock in Rosyth on Monday and is now in Aberdeen ahead of a sailing north tonight (Tuesday).

Under the terms of the Northern Isles ferry service contract, which is currently held by Serco NorthLink, the operator can be given deductions in grant funding when the service is affected.

A spokesperson for government agency Transport Scotland said: “Performance deductions are applied under the NIFS3 contract, where applicable, when sailings are disrupted.

“An assessment will be made once the vessel returns to service and full details and circumstances of the cancellations are made available.”

Serco NorthLink has not given an explanation of what caused the delay, but said at the weekend that all customers booked to travel on the impacted sailings were being contacted by the operator to rearrange their travel accordingly.