Charter boat to cover Graemsay and North Hoy route

Orkney Ferries is chartering a boat to cover the Graemsay and North Hoy route until the mv Graemsay returns to service.

The eight-year-old mv Chieftain, will arrive in Orkney next week, and following some familiarisation locally will take over from the  Golden Mariana, which is currently serving the route.

Ferry services manager, Fraser Murray said: “The mv Chieftain is able to carry up to eighty passengers on present crewing, compared to the Golden Mariana, which has a capacity of forty passengers, and will better meet the needs of the Graemsay and Hoy route, especially over the coming summer months.

“This arrangement will not only provide continuity of service to the Graemsay and North Hoy route, but will also allow the mv Golden Mariana to return to Pierowall and Papa Westray, thus meeting the needs of the communities served by both of these routes.”

The Pierowall and Papa Westray route is currently served by the Kirkwall Bay.  The return of the Golden Mariana will increase passenger capacity on this route from ten to forty.