Ferry companies reach shortlist

NorthLink, Streamline and Pentland Ferries are on the shortlist of bidders invited to take part in the next stage of competition for the Northern Isles ferry routes, as are former Orkney and Shetland ferry service providers P&O.

Transport Scotland announced the shortlist today, Monday, which names the six companies who will compete to carry out the services from 2012-2018 after the current contract ends in July next year.

NorthLink, P&O Ferries Holdings Ltd, and Shetland Line (1984) Ltd, which is part of the Streamline Shipping Group, are bidding for all services, as are international service company Serco.

Pentland Ferries are participating in relation to the Scrabster – Stromness route only, with Norwegian company Sea-Cargo A/S participating in relation to the Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick route.

The Competitive Dialogue process now being entered into consists of a short series of meetings between officials and bidders to discuss their proposals before bidders are invited to submit their final tenders.

Final bids will be submitted early in 2012.