The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s [what is this?] inquiry into a Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland sought to identify the current and evolving needs of ferry users and to consider how services could be better designed to meet those needs.
The report discusses the urgency of the need for change. It says that the forthcoming Islands Connectivity Plan represents the chance for a genuinely fresh start, a chance the Scottish Government must seize.
The two ro-ro ferries that serve the Northern Isles network have been purchased by the Scottish Government.
Sister vessels HELLIAR and HILDASAY operate on the lifeline routes from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, Orkney and Lerwick.
They had previously been chartered from Fortress, but a formal deal has been completed and they will now join the Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) fleet.
Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Our ferry services are iconic transport links that play a vital role for our island economies, so it’s important that we secure the two freight ferries for the future. Purchasing the vessels outright will also bring financial benefits by delivering savings to the public purse over the longer term.”
In April 2018, ro-pax ferries HAMNAVOE, HROSSEY and HJALTLAND had already been taken into CMAL ownership. This means that now the entire fleet of NorthLink ferries is under the CMAL ownership.
