Public invited to give views on replacement freight ferry plans

A PUBLIC engagement event into the project to replace two freight ferries with “freighter-plus” vessels is set to be held in Lerwick this afternoon (Tuesday).

Representatives from Transport Scotland, Serco NorthLink and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) will be at the Shetland Museum from 3-6pm today.

The drop-in session will give the public the chance to hear more about the project and give their feedback, with updates on the project set to be provided.

The two long-awaited vessels would replace the Helliar and Hildasay and would offer more freight capacity on the stretched Northern Isles route.

They could also provide passenger space at peak times too.

The ferries would be able to operate either as full-freight vessels, with room for just 12 passengers, or as passenger ships – offering capacity for 200 people.

A decision on funding for the two vessels could be made as early as April, a meeting heard earlier this month.

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An outline business case is expected to go before a Scottish Government “investment decision making board” early next month.

It is hoped that all contracts will be signed on the deal by February 2026, with the two ferries expected to take around three-and-a-half years to build.

CMAL, the company which owns vessels on behalf of the Scottish Government, received interest from 13 shipyards across the world in constructing the two ferries.

Company chief executive Kevin Hobbs said CMAL had since whittled that down to six shipyards, which they would be scrutinising in the coming months.

Hobbs said all parties “really do need to get going”, adding they hoped to start the “long-winded” tender process in June.

A copy of the materials exhibited at today’s session, and a feedback form, is expected to be provided at cmassets.co.uk/nifv following the session.