News / Threat to NorthLink winter service
SHETLAND has hit out at a government announcement to lengthen ferry journeys and possibly cut back winter sailings, saying they were carried out without consultation.
This morning (Tuesday) the Scottish government announced that it was raising ferry fares on the western isles service and cutting fuel bills on the northern isles service to save money.
NorthLink have been told that from May their vessels must operate on two engines rather than the four they use at the moment to help save on their £10 million annual fuel bill.
The move will lengthen trips between Aberdeen and Lerwick that go via Orkney.
The company has been told to introduce a new timetable in May, which will probably see the Aberdeen sailing leaving one hour earlier at 4pm, and the Lerwick sailing leaving half an hour earlier at 5pm. Ferries arrival time should remain unchanged.
Direct sailings between Aberdeen and Lerwick will not be affected by the change.
The government also said that it is seeking to cut back the winter service, which could see the number of trips between Shetland and Aberdeen reduced from 14 a week to just six, as occurs during the vessels’ annual refit.
Transport development manager with Shetland transport partnership ZetTrans, Ken Duerden, said the first they had heard of the decision was this afternoon when the government put out a press release. A statement had been published on the government’s website in the morning.
Mr Duerden said: “This makes a complete mockery of the consultation process and everything we have set up. We have established forums through which these things should be discussed.”
He said the earlier departure times from Aberdeen would be particularly awkward for people taking part in sporting events on the mainland.
However of greater concern is the government statement: “Discussions will continue with NorthLink about further opportunities for efficiencies, particularly during the winter when there is a large amount of unused passenger capacity on the Aberdeen-Lerwick route.”
Mr Duerden has interpreted that as meaning one boat sailing during the winter months.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott slammed the government’s decision. “Fundamental changes to the timetable, as it seems are being threatened, would have to be subjected to a full consultation,” he said.
“To make changes without this would be totally wrong. But, of course, if they consulted on changes along the lines hinted they would discover them to be about as popular as the proposal to introduce parking charges at Sumburgh.
“The Aberdeen to Lerwick route is Shetland’s vital economic and social lifeline. Now it looks as if they are seeking to cut some of our winter sailings. When that was proposed as a trade-off against extra summer crossings it was soundly rejected in Shetland, and Shetland will be in no more of a mood to accept it if it is proposed again.
“As for timetable changes, this can only mean either earlier departures or later arrivals, neither of which would be acceptable to Shetland businesses or to most passengers.
“The transport minister’s constituents can drive in and out of his constituency any time they want. Shetland residents and businesses have one equivalent service each way each day. The least we can expect is that it is maintained and that it runs when we need it to run.”
A government spokeswoman said the decision to cut fuel costs had “been taken in the face of an extremely difficult economic situation”.
NorthLink said that it was “finalising” a new timetable, which will be introduced in May.
The company made it clear that the decision had come from the government. A statement read: “NorthLink provides ferry services in accordance with an operating contract awarded by the Scottish government. The government are entitled to make whatever changes they wish to the terms of that contract and require us to implement them, which is what we will now do.”
In the western isles and on the Clyde the government is imposing an extra two per cent fare increase, though commercial vehicles, coaches and multi-journey tickets will be exempt. No fare increases have yet been mentioned for the northern isles.
Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said: “The Scottish government is responding positively to the very real challenges on public spending which are facing us. We are taking decisions which will allow us to maintain the efficient ferry services which the public currently enjoy.”
The government is spending £105 million subsidising the Scottish lifeline ferry service next year, up from £103.1 million this year. In 2006/7 the subsidy was £91.4 million.
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