Ferry News Archive
Ferry plan link to UK and Norway attracts interest
Date: 17 Aug 2007 00:00 Source: Shetland Today4 expressions of interest have been received for a new ferry service linking Shetland with Norway and the UK.
Companies were invited to tender for the link when adverts were put out across the EU last month.
The proposal for a "motorway of the sea" has been developed by a joint venture comprising Shetland Development Trust, ZetTrans and Møregruppen AS (a Norwegian public/private consortium).
The aims of the service are to move significant volumes of freight by sea, rather than by road, between Norway and the UK and Norway and the continent (through a UK port, possibly Rosyth), and to increase tourism.
The next stage of the process will involve the four companies who expressed interest in the scheme having to fill out pre-qualification questionnaires
Tender documents for pre-qualified bidders will be sent out next Friday and they will have until 21st September to submit their proposals.
It is expected that the preferred operator will be selected in October.
The voyage distances involved suggest that a single vessel operating the service could do two full round trips a week. However, the vessel type, timetable, fare structure and UK port will eventually be decided by the bidders.
Shetland Development Trust has paid £50,000 for a feasibility study, while other funding for the project will come from the EU Motorway of the Seas TEN-T (Trans-European Networks Transport) scheme and Marco Polo funding. Additional cash injections may be offered by Norshukon to the selected operator.
Ferry operation manager Ken Duerden said: "Once we get a preferred operator on board we can find out exactly how the service will look. If we get an operator on early they can have a bigger impact on the specification."
Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, has welcomed the news that four ferry companies have expressed an interest in running the proposed Norshukon shipping link.
Mr Scott said: "I was pleased to hear that four companies have submitted an expression of interest in running this service and that, as a result, the project is to move forward fast with a view to selecting a preferred bidder in October.
"The cut this summer in the number of calls to Lerwick made by the Norröna has already had an impact on Shetland's tourist industry. Businesses tell me that they are noticing the drop in visitors. The ending of the service altogether next year will make matters even worse. So the prospect of an alternative ferry link to Norway is very welcome.
"The extra sailings between Shetland and mainland Scotland will also benefit both tourists and Shetland residents. It will take some of the pressure off the NorthLink sailings which, as victims of their own success, now struggle to cope with the peak demand.
"The Shetland Development Trust and ZetTrans have my full support in this important venture. I will certainly do what I can to help them to get it up and running."
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