Caithness CWS - Photo Features 2001 - Boats 2001- Wrecks

Main Boats Index

13 September 06
Ferry in harbour dispute - The Herald
Why is Orkney Islands Council preventing Pentland Ferries using the harbour at Burwick? The ferry company could shorten the trip by 30 minutes from Caithness to Orkney and vice-versa. Since its inception Pentland Ferries has slashed the cost of getting a vehicle over the Pentland Firth. Pentland Ferries run by a local Orkney family have received no grants or subsidies unlike the massive subsidies and bailout given to Northlink Ferries. Pentland Ferries currently runs between Gills In Caithness to St Margaret's Hope in Orkney but by running into Burwick the firm could cut the running time by 30 minutes and probably reduce fares even further. The question everyone is asking is why is Orkney Islands Council preventing this as better ferry services are likely to assist the populations of both Orkney and Caithness. In 2004 the Scottish Executive gave Northlink Ł13.4 million after it got into financial trouble.

6 July 06
Orkney And Shetland Ferry Contract
The six year contract for lifeline ferry services to Orkney and Shetland has been awarded to Northlink Ferries Ltd. The company takes over today having been formed following the appointment of Caledonian MacBrayne, ferry provider on the west coast of Scotland, as preferred bidder in March.

9 April 04
North Link Ferry Services To Be Retendered As Northlink Hits Financial Problems
The government has had to throw Northlink a lifeline to keep the service afloat. The Scottish Executive will give the company an extra Ł13.4 million including Ł1million for the delays in the construction of the Scrabster pier. The late start-up of the new ferry Hamnavoe and competition arriving from the new Pentland Ferries from Gills have played a part in the problems for Northlink. The ferry contract will be retendered almost immediately and would commence in 2005. Ferry services are not affected and sailings remain as per the timetable. The existing contract was for a five year period and has run for only 18 months. The company has three new modern vessels plus freight vessels on the routes to Orkney and Shetland. The Hamnavoe was tied up at Leith for 6 months awaiting the completion of work at Scrabster. Eventually the service started before the new pier was completed using the old pier after work was carried out to make it possible for the ferry to berth. This together with more competition had undermined the financial model prepared at the time of the tender. Advertisement will appear in the press shortly for the retendering of the contract.

5 November 03
MSP Rob Gibson Asks For North Ferry Users Group
Rob Gibson SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands has lodged a written question with the Scottish Executive asking whether it has plans to extend the remit of the Caledonian MacBrayne Users Committee Scotland to include passengers on Northlink Ferries. Mr Gibson explained that the new shipping contracts posed new questions. To whom do passengers turn if they do not receive satisfactory answers from the company? The Scottish Executive will have to explain. Orkney and Shetland ferry users deserve a Users Committee, either by extending the existing CalMac version or a new set up for the Northern Isles.

Hamnavoe Trip - Scrabster to Old Man Of Hoy
One of a series of trips laid on for local people in Caithness and Orkney to introduce the Hamnavoe Ferry before it commences service on the Scrabster to Stromness route. the brand new ferry is starting ahead of the new pier being completed and everyone onboard was delighted with the trip on a beautiful spring day out in the Pentland Firth.

Hamnavoe At Scrabster

6 November 2002 Hebridean Isles - Replacing the St Ola until the new larger ferry can use the new pier
25 September 2002 The Old Stromness Linkspan May Find New Lease Of Life At Wick The Linkspan from Stromness arrived in Wick on 24 September and may be set up in Wick harbour. The linkspan has been replaced at Stromness to take the new larger ferry once Scrabster pier is completed. Mr Andrew Banks of Pentland Ferries has purchased the old linkspan and may use it at Wick to accommodate the Pentalina B when weather prevents docking at Gills pier. Pentland Ferries is upgrading the Pentalina B to operate a winter service. The company will also have a second ferry - the Claymore which will carry freight only adding yet another competitive angle on charges across the Pentland Firth. The Pentlina B has had a very successful season with increasing numbers of people on both sides of the Pentland Firth using the cheaper option offered by Pentland Ferries.
St Ola Ferry Scrabster - Stromness 23 June 2002
Pentland Venture - First Trip to Orkney From John O'Groats for 2002 - 1 May 2002

Pentalina B Starts 2002 Season At Gills Pier
Pentalina B 12 Apr 2002	Pentalina B 12 April 2002
Pentland Venture	Pentland Venture	Pentland Venture & Burray Lass	Ferries Through Winch
Ferry Companies John O'Groat Ferry Company Ferry from John O'Groats To Orkney - Company also runs bus tours of Orkney. Pentland Ferries - From Gills, Caithness to St Margaret's Hope Car Ferry - shortest route for cars Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries P & O Scottish Ferries UK ferry company - No longer runs ferry from Caithness to Orkney Orkney Ferries Caledonian MacBrayne - For ferries to the Western Isles. Caledonian MacBrayne serve 22 islands and 4 peninsulas spread over the West Coast of Scotland Superfast at Travel.com Rosyth - Zeebrugge route - once of the fastest growing sea routes from Europe directly in to central Scotland. More and more Scots are also heading for Europe via this ferry rather than the long drive to the south of England Smyril Line - Ferries between Aberdeen, Lerwick, Bergen Norway and Torsahven Faroe Islands More Ferry Companies In Scotland and the UK