Northern Isles ferry services

Services to the Orkney and Shetland Islands which are supported by the Scottish Government:

Hrossey in winter

©NorthLink Ferries Ltd

• NorthLink Ferries Limited and
• Shetland Line 1984 Limited provide

These services are provided under tendered contracts with Scottish Ministers. 

1. Northern Isles ferry services contract

• Operator - NorthLink Ferries Limited
• Contract - 6 years (July 2006 to June 2012)
• Areas served - ferry services between (a) Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick and (b) Scrabster and Stromness (see map)
• How to get more info - http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/

The current contract between the Scottish Ministers and NorthLink Ferries Limited to operate ferry services to and from the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland to the Scottish mainland is due to terminate on 5 July 2012.  The Scottish Government will have a new set of agreements in place from 6 July 2012 and work has now started on achieving this.  A public consultation on options for future Northern Isles ferry services was conducted from 11 June to 30 September 2010.  The relevant consultation documents are available for information only below.

• Northern Isles Ferry Services - Analysis of Written Responses
• Scottish Ferries Review and Northern Isles Tendering Consultation: Update Paper March 2011
• Northern Isles Consultation Responses

2. Northern Isles freight contract

• Operator - Shetland Line 1984 Limited, part of the Streamline Shipping Group
• Contract length - 6 years (May 2008 to May 2014)
• Areas served - freight shipping service between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick
• How to get more info - Streamline Shipping Group Ltd