Design work for new freight ferries progressing well, meeting hears
DESIGN work on new freight vessels for the Northern Isles is “well underway”, a meeting has heard.
Transport Scotland’s director of ferries and ports Chris Wilcock said the two ‘freight flex’ vessels are expected to be delivered on time and on budget.
The contract to build two freight-flex vessels for the Northern Isles was awarded to Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Limited (GSI) earlier this year.
The two new ferries, which are expected to cost £200 million in total and will have increased passenger capacity, are due to be delivered in 2029.
The 140-metre ferries, which will replace the Helliar and Hildasay on the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route, will have improved freight capacity, higher operating speeds and the ability for 200 passengers on each ship to travel in peak times and dry dock periods.
In a brief update to Shetland’s external transport forum on Tuesday afternoon, Wilcock said design work was going well.
He said CMAL – which owns ferries on behalf of the government – is “very, very pleased” with the progress, while there stands to be more community consultation in the coming months.
The meeting heard that builders have also been meeting with operator NorthLink about its expectations, and on detailed designs.
Wilcock said Transport Scotland has also started to speak to NorthLink in terms of timetables once the new ferries are in service.
NorthLink managing director Stuart Garrett said he did not expect the future timetable to be too dissimilar to the current one, given it is based on demand.
Wilcock also told the meeting that Transport Scotland will be looking to turn its focus towards replacements for the Northern Isles passenger ferries Hjaltland and Hrossey.
The ships will turn 30 years old in 2032, and there is an intention that they do not operate beyond that.
Meanwhile procurement work continues on the next Northern Isles ferry service contract, which is expected to be in place in 2028.
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