Transport Minister in visit to Hamnavoe in Rosyth dockyard

Transport Minister Keith Brown has visited the Rosyth shipyard where the Hamnavoe is being repaired.

Mr Brown said: “I was keen to see for myself the significant efforts being put in around the clock by the team of engineers at Rosyth to make good the repair and get the MV Hamnavoe back into service on the Scrabster-Stromness route.

“The damage to the crankshaft has presented the technical team with a complex logistical task which has required small sections of the deck of the ship to be opened to allow lifting gear to be put in place to raise the broken crankshaft out of its housing. The new crankshaft, which was brought over from Germany, has now been lowered into place. There are a number of further technical operations to be completed, but the work is on schedule.

“This will be welcome news. While I appreciate that the situation isn’t ideal, I have been reassured that every effort is being made to get her back into service in time for an important holiday weekend for Orkney.”