Re-tendering of Northern Isles ferries to be delayed
Humza Yousaf, minister for transport and the islands, has confirmed that the re-tendering of the Northern Isles ferry contracts will be delayed until spring 2018.
A decision on the re-tendering of the Northern Isles ferry contract has been delayed.
Yesterday, Wednesday, Scottish transport minister, Humza Yousaf, confirmed that a decision on extending the contract for the service — currently held by Serco Northlink — will not be taken until spring 2018.
“We will complete the policy review as soon as we can but, in the meantime, we have had to make a number of decisions on current ferry contracts that are coming to an end,” he said.
“In the case of the Northern Isles Ferry Services, we will extend the contract until October 2019 with a view to making a decision on future tendering in Spring 2018.”
As part of this process, Mr Yousaf says he and his team will be writing to key local community stakeholders, in order to build a better understanding of their preferences for the future approach to the procurement of their ferry services.
“Making sure our ferry services support our island and remote rural communities remains at the heart of this exercise,” he added.
“We will ensure that these iconic services continue to play a vital role for the people and industries that depend on them.”
But this decision has sparked the ire of Orkney MSP Liam McArthur, who said he was disappointed that — despite clear views from Orkney and Shetland in favour of tendering — the Minister has yet again failed to make a decision.
“After promises of decisions being taken by the end of the year, we are now told there will be a further delay and still more uncertainty,” he said, following Mr Yousaf’s statement in parliament.
“This is doing nothing to help focus attention on the improvements we need to see in these lifeline services and how these can be delivered.
“Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf was also unable to give any indication of a timeframe for publication of the freight fare review. This has been ongoing now for three years, with still no end in sight.”
On the other hand, Highlands and Islands MSP, Jamie Halcro Johnston was less critical of the move, seeking assurances that there would be no impact on the service currently provided and that existing commitments by Serco Northlink would be upheld.
“I am pleased that the Minister was able to give these assurances and I will be looking to hold him to those commitments in the coming months and years,” he said, following Mr Yousaf’s announcement.
“However this is only the first stage of examining whether the Scottish Government brings the Northern Isles ferries in-house rather than putting them out to tender.
“Ministers have given firm commitments to respect the views of local people before making changes and it is crucial that local people and businesses in Orkney and in Shetland are closely involved in any decision-making process that emerges”.
