NorthLink adds additional freight vessel to meet demand

NorthLink Ferries say the company  has responded to additional freight traffic volumes by moving from a single freight service to the use of both the Hildasay and the Helliar  two weeks earlier than planned.

This means that between them the ferries will operate seven days a week ,with two crossings each day except Sunday and Tuesday where just one vessel operates a single crossing.

According to the company this uplift will free up deck space on the passenger vessels for the busy summer season, and will allow new services such as bulk bag shipping.

Managing director of NorthLink Ferries, Stuart Garrett said: “We always take care to monitor the demands on our freight service and where there is the call for it we can increase our offering in order to accommodate this.

“Having consulted stakeholders it was clear to see that there was the need for extra capacity so we have brought forward our peak timetable by a fortnight in order satisfy demand.”