Transport / No current plans to bring back shared cabins in next ferry contract, minister says
THE SCOTTISH Government says there remains no plans to reintroduce shared cabins on the Northern Isles ferry service as consultation continues on the next contract.
The matter was raised in parliament by Orkney MSP Liam McArthur, who called for the return of shared cabins to be a condition of the next contract.
But connectivity minister Jim Fairlie said as it stands shared cabins will not be re-introduced.
He added that operator Serco NorthLink took a decision on health and safety grounds to not reintroduce shared cabins after Covid restrictions came to an end.
The current Northern Isles ferry service contract, which is subsidised by the Scottish Government and held by Serco NorthLink, ends on 30 June 2028.
The issue of shared cabins not being reintroduced after the Covid pandemic has been a sore point for many, from passengers to politicians, particularly given the capacity constraints in peak months.
It led to the creation of a Facebook page where people can offer spare beds in a cabin to other passengers.
NorthLink boss Stuart Garrett recently said safety was the primary reason why shared cabins will not return.
Transport official questions if pod lounges are safer than shared cabins
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this week, McArthur asked the government if a shared cabin policy could be introduced as a condition of the next contract.
In response Fairlie said stakeholder views and “consideration of operational feasibility” will inform service requirements in the next contract.
“Pending analysis and feedback, there are no current plans to introduce shared cabins as part of the NIFS services at this time,” he said.
McArthur said as a result of the decision to stop shared fares, islanders are often forced to pay the full cabin price for a berth on the boat, or face sleeping in a chair or on the floor.
“It’s akin to charging a motorcyclist for deck space for an Arctic lorry,” he said.
The MSP added that with fares going up and concessionary vouchers also not going as far as they used to, “islanders deserve better”.
Fairlie said he heard the points but added that the decision to stop shared cabins was taken by the operator on a “health and safety issue”.
But after the meeting McArthur said he was surprised by health and safety being mentioned as the reason.
The Lib Dem said before the Covid pandemic he was not aware of “such concerns being raised about a policy that worked well for many years, allowing islanders to get a good night’s sleep while keeping costs down”.
“While some islanders have put in place informal arrangements to get round the ban on ‘shared cabins’, Scottish ministers must now ensure that a policy that has worked fine in the past can be reintroduced under the forthcoming NIFS [Northern Isles Ferry Service] contract,” he added.
“It is wholly unacceptable to continue overcharging islanders to get a good night’s sleep on what is a lifeline service.
“Despite the minister’s unhelpful response, I will continue to press this case and would encourage constituents to respond to the government’s consultation before it closes on 13 October.”
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