Serco NorthLink has been awarded nearly £80,000 to help improve accessibility on its ferries.
Transport Scotland’s Ferries Accessibility Fund has awarded £79,221 to Serco NorthLink Ferries and the National Autistic Society for plans that include the provision of Changing Places facilities on board vessels, as well as specialist equipment and staff training to help autistic passengers.
The creation of an app outlining the specialist assistance available to passengers at each of the terminals on the Northern Isles ferry network is also planned.
The awards are made on a match-funding basis, which means that applicants will have to match the contribution from the fund themselves.
Minister for energy, connectivity and the islands, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “We want Scotland’s ferry services to be fully accessible, offering the best passenger experience possible to everyone. Operators already have strict standards to meet when it comes to accessibility but this fund can help them to go further.
“The improvements made through previous awards have been a great success, so it’s very encouraging that more organisations have seen the potential to make positive changes and brought forward some excellent proposals.
“We know that accessible travel can enable people to enjoy equal access to full citizenship so, as part of our Accessible Travel Framework, we want to identify and remove disabling barriers which prevent people travelling or make their journeys an unpleasant experience.”