This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pentland Firth lifeline ferry
24/03/2003
The Executive is to provide £300,000 for modifications
to the existing pier at Scrabster while a new £19 million
pier is completed, it was announced today.
The work is an interim solution to enable NorthLink's
Hamnovoe ferry to berth at the pier from April 21 and
continue to provide lifeline services between the mainland
and Orkney and Shetland.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald, speaking
ahead of a visit to Scrabster to view progress on a new
pier, said:
"We are committed to keeping this vital route open and I
am pleased to announce that the Executive will be funding
the £300,000 costs of modifications to the existing pier,
to enable NorthLink's Hamnavoe vessel to be introduced
from April 21.
"These modifications are not a long-term solution for
berthing the Hamnavoe at Scrabster. NorthLink plans to use
the new pier as soon as it is ready.
"We hope the arrangements put in place over the next
month will provide a reasonably reliable interim solution,
although subject as always to weather conditions.
"We remain very concerned that the main quayworks for
the new pier are still to be completed. The recent storm
damage caused further delay which is frustrating for all
involved. However we are determined, in co-operation with
the Scrabster Harbour Trust and NorthLink, to ensure that
the best possible standard of service can be provided until
the new pier is ready."
Scottish Ministers awarded the 2002-2007 Northern Isles
lifeline ferry contract to NorthLink Orkney and Shetland
Ferries Ltd in late 2000.
In order to accommodate the larger vessels that each of
the shipping companies short-listed for the ferry contract
had proposed, a major upgrading of Scrabster Harbour was
required. A technical appraisal concluded that a new pier
was the best way forward.
The ew pier was originally scheduled to be operational
by October last year. The management of the Scrabster
project is a matter for the Scrabster Harbour Trust, an
independent trust port established in 1841 under its own
local legislation. The Executive has a funding role only,
and is committed to providing £14.55 million in Piers and
Harbours Grant to the Trust towards the costs of the new
pier.
The European Regional Development Fund is contributing
£1.75 million and the Trust is meeting the balance of £2.7
million.