Transport / NorthLink introduces new lie-flat pods
“THERE’S not going to be anything else like this in Scotland.”
Eighteen lie-flat pods have been unveiled on NorthLink’s Northern Isles ferries, in what is believed to be a first for the marine industry.
The pods, which recline to 180 degrees, replace 30 of NorthLink’s previous sleeping pods on both the Hrossey and the Hjaltland.
After a soft launch – in which feedback was “really positive” – the lie-flat pods will go live tonight (Friday), with the lounge fully booked on the crossing from Lerwick to Aberdeen.
It comes after years of complaints about the lack of affordable sleeping options for people to lie flat on the ferries, particularly from Green councillor Alex Armitage.
Shetland News was given a tour of the lounge on Friday morning, and even had the chance to try out the pods for the first time.
Designed by Norwegian company Ekness, the lie-flat pods come with a low foot rest – although this vertically challenged reporter still could not reach it.
As well as the capacity to lie-flat, as opposed to the current pods which can only recline slightly, there are also a number of other changes.
Each lie-flat pod comes with a duvet and pillow at every seat, which are thicker than in the other pods, and have a three-point power socket as well as USB charging.
The pods take around 35-40 seconds to fully recline, with onboard services manager Seumas Campbell describing the recliners as “very, very quiet”.
They also come with retractable and adjustable tables, a reading light and with toilets and showers at the back of the lounge.
The duvet at each seat is “very cosy”, he said, with the bedding to be laundered every day.
Staff will continue to monitor the lie-flat pod lounge through the night – as they currently do – with assurances given that safety will remain a priority.
While there are no dividers in between the lie-flat pods, it was difficult to see the pods on either side when the seat was fully reclined.
Campbell described the pods as “quite innovative” and a “one of a kind design for the marine industry”.
“We’ve gone from 30 down to 18, but there’s not going to be anything else like this in Scotland,” he said.
“I think the trade off for that 12 pods will be quite a welcome opportunity for the islanders to have.”
Green councillor Armitage has long called for passengers to have the ability to lie flat on long NorthLink crossings for affordable prices, especially when cabins are fully booked.
He has said that some people, particularly making long car journeys the next day, need to have the chance to get a proper night’s sleep for less.
Customer service director Billy Robb said the lie-flat pods would cost £30 for a single trip on the ferry.
“We’ve had a soft launch over the last week but tonight will be the proper go live,” he told Shetland News.
“The feedback so far has been really positive.”
Robb said that it had been an “interesting project” for NorthLink, which began exploring the possibility of introducing lie-flat pods last year.
“We looked at a couple of companies, including one in the States, but Eknes seemed to be best in class.
“I think the time is right to do it. It’s a totally different environment to what it was before.
“We’ll see what the appetite is like for this.”
If the lie-flat pods prove popular, Robb added there would be the chance to include them in the designs for two new freight-flex vessels as well.
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