Names of new freight ferries will be decided by public vote

THE PUBLIC will get a chance to help name two new freight ferries set to be built for the Northern Isles.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and Serco NorthLink Ferries have produced a shortlist of names for voters to choose from.

The two most popular names will be given to the new vessels, which will replace the MV Helliar and MV Hildasay.

Helliar and Hildasay, however, both feature on the shortlist of names for the new vessels.

The shortlisted names, and the details provided by CMAL, can be found below:

Shetland-inspired names

• Hascosay — a small remote island lying between Yell and Fetlar

• Hebrista — a low-lying teardrop-shaped islet in the West Mainland of Shetland

• Helliness — inspired by Holm of Helliness, a small uninhabited island off the east coast of Shetland

• Heogland — an uninhabited drying islet at the southern entrance to the Bluemull Sound in Shetland

• Hildasay — an island off the west coast of Shetland

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Orkney-inspired names

• Hakon — the name of an Old Norse earl who ruled the Earldom of Orkney

• Helliar — inspired by “cave island”, a small uninhabited tidal island off the east coast of Orkney

• Hestigeo — a ravine located in St Ola

• Hunda — a small island in Scapa Flow, translated in Old Norse as “dog island”

• Hundigar — a dry rock skerry located on the tidal island Birsay

Voting is now open here, with folk able to cast their vote until 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September.

The two new ‘freight-flex’ vessels serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route.

The new 140-metre vessels will provide the routes with additional freight capacity and efficiency for quicker crossings, as well as improved flexibility to accommodate up to 200 passengers during peak travel times.

The contract to build the two vessels was awarded to Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Limited (GSI) earlier this year.

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs: said: “The two new vessels for the Northern Isles will provide a welcome boost to the service’s overall efficiency and reliability, and choosing their names marks an important maritime tradition.

“With a strong list of names that tie into both Shetland and Orkney’s respective rich heritage, we encourage members of these island communities to get involved and have a say in what these vessels will be named.”

Stuart Garrett, managing director at Serco NorthLink Ferries, said: “Once in service, these vessels will provide additional flexibility and capacity, helping to support resilience across the Northern Isles network for years to come.

“The opportunity for communities and customers to help choose their names is a great way for people to be part of that journey, and we look forward to seeing which names prove most popular.”

Shetland’s external transport forum recently heard that design work on new freight vessels for the Northern Isles is “well under way”.

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