Lib Dems comment on ferries procurement news for Northern Isles
Scottish Liberal Democrats have today said that much more needs to be done to support island communities and strengthen lifeline ferry services after the Scottish Government announced the beginning of the procurement process for two new ferries for the Northern Isles.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced that the tender process is underway for two new NorthLink ferries, which will replace the aged Helliar and Hildasay vessels.
Scottish Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called on the SNP to improve the resilience of the Northern Isles ferry network and increase capacity for both passengers and freight.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland Beatrice Wishart said:
“This news is welcome, as are the plans for greater capacity on the route for both passengers and freight.
“We are, however, still in the foothills of the process and will continue to face constrained capacity for several years ahead.
“The Scottish Government should have made these plans earlier to ensure a smooth transition and increase in the capacity on the Northern Isles route to meet growing demand.
“What the space for 200 passengers looks like on the new vessels remains to be seen but if it’s 200 pods for an overnight crossing then I expect there will be uproar.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney Liam McArthur said:
“For many years the Northern Isles have been clear that the existing vessels are simply not fit for purpose.
“In particular, local businesses in Orkney and Shetland have long reported that the freight capacity on the Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick route does not need their needs, with a knock-on impact felt across a number of sectors and the local economy.
“Whilst long overdue, I am glad to see the Scottish Government have finally announced the beginning of a procurement process for two new freight ferry vessels, where the increase in passenger and freight capacity will help to increase resilience in ferry services for constituents and businesses alike.”