Serco NorthLink Ferries, the operator of passenger and vehicle ferries and services between mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland, will offer an extra return crossing on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings.
The extra crossings are intended to help support residents and visitors whose travel plans have been affected by the suspension of Pentland Ferries services, and will run in addition to the extra Sunday round trip announced by NorthLink Ferries last week.
Effective immediately until Friday 30th June, the MV Hamnavoe passenger service from Scrabster on the Scottish mainland to Stromness in Orkney will offer a fourth crossing on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings to help accommodate passengers:
- Stromness to Scrabster sailings will run at 0630, 1100, 1645 and 2115
- Scrabster to Stromness sailings will run at 0845, 1315, 1900 and 2330
NorthLink Ferries will continue to monitor the demand for its services and maintain close contact with stakeholders to understand the level of support required thereafter.
Stuart Garrett, Serco’s Managing Director for NorthLink Ferries, says: “We hope these additional sailings help maintain access between Orkney and the Scottish mainland, particularly as residents and visitors alike look forward to the much anticipated Orkney Folk Festival at the end of this month and the St Magnus Festival in June.
“We want to reassure the community that we are in close contact with the Scottish Government and will continue to assess how we can best support travel on this route.”
I very much welcome NorthLink increasing their sailings across the Pentland Firth to meet demand during a challenging time for Orkney’s communities and businesses.
Transport Minister Kevin Stewart MSP, adds: “I very much welcome NorthLink increasing their sailings across the Pentland Firth to meet demand during a challenging time for Orkney’s communities and businesses.
“NorthLink have been proactively assessing capacity up to this point and they have assured me they will continue to review on-going demand for the remainder of the month and into June.”
Visit www.northlinkferries.co.uk for additional information.
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