NorthLink urges caution with ferry passenger numbers set to rise
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Passenger numbers on NorthLink ferry services are expected to rise during the coming weeks with the reopening of the tourist industry, but people are being urged to continue exercising caution when they travel.
Serco NorthLink Ferries operates services between the Scottish mainland and the Northern Isles, including the Scrabster/Stromness link. It has been operating a revised service during phases one and two of the Covid-19 lockdown, providing travel for key workers as well as essential islander and freight connectivity.
During the period March 22 to June 30, passenger numbers across all routes were 6010 in comparison to 112,416 over the same period in 2019, representing a reduction of 95 per cent.
From mid-April, there were 4863 journeys for declared essential travel – with 42 per cent of those being key workers in sectors including energy, fishing, aquaculture, telecommunications, utilities and agriculture.
In addition, islander travel accounted for 1338 journeys with reasons for travel including caring, returning students and family-related issues. NHS travel – whether staff or patients – accounted for 14 per cent of travel in this period and a total of 665 journeys.
Across the wider March 22 to June 30 period, vehicles were recorded at 2205 – down from 31,078 in 2019, which is 93 per cent lower. Freight volumes have been strong but still recorded a 16 per cent decrease, while there was a reduction in freight lane meterage of 34,325 since March 22 – a 21 per cent decrease compared with the same period last year.
Just over 10,000 bookings were cancelled during the period, representing a reduction of more than 35,000 passengers across all services. This has led to more than £4.2m in refunds being processed.
Seventy passengers were refused travel during phases one and two of lockdown as they did not meet the criteria for travel.
Stuart Garrett, Serco’s managing director of NorthLink Ferries, said: “In line with phase three of the Scottish Government’s route map out of the Covid-19 crisis, all passengers are now able to travel on our routes with capacity increased, but still curtailed, on our vessels.
“We are proud to have provided an essential service between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland during this national emergency, which had an understandable and expected impact on passenger volume.
“Due to the proactive approach we took during this period with cancellations, we were able to ensure capacity was available at all times for those eligible to travel under government guidelines. Our analysis shows we supported a range of key sectors during this period, while also providing essential travel for islanders and NHS staff and patients.
“While we expect passenger numbers to rise during the weeks ahead, particularly with the reopening of the tourist industry, we would remind passengers to continue to exercise caution.”
NorthLink services are operating on their normal timetable. Assessments have been carried out to ensure appropriate physical distancing can be maintained, which in turn has allowed capacity to be increased.
On the MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey, capacity is now set at 335 while on the MV Hamnavoe it is set at 370.
The company says passenger travel on MV Helliar and MV Hildasay remains suspended "to ensure extra resilience is maintained on these lifeline freight services".
