£2 million upgrade for Aberdeen vessels

Passengers using the Northern Isles ferry services are set to benefit from improved on board facilities with investment worth more than £2 million from the Scottish Government.

The programme of upgrades will include the introduction of 66 new sleeping pods on each of the Aberdeen vessels, along with new cinemas, shops, games areas, and entertainment zones for younger travellers.

Additional fin stabilisers will be purchased for both vessels, reducing the risk of disruption and providing improved resilience to services.

The investment will also bring benefits to freight customers with the introduction of nine new port tractors to improve shore side operations and reduce maintenance costs.

The announcement follows criticism of the use of Serco NorthLink Ferries’ freight ship mv Helliar on the Stromness to Scrabster route while the mv Hamnavoe is on refit in January next year.