NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd has today (Tuesday, October 31,2000) issued letters of intent to order the three vessels which are required to operate the ferry services to the Northern Isles when it takes over these services in 2002.

Subject to finalising contracts, the 110m passenger/ro-ro Pentland Firth (Scrabster - Orkney) vessel will be ordered from Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd of Port Glasgow and the two 125m passenger/ro-ro vessels for services between Aberdeen, Shetland and Orkney will be ordered from Aker Finnyards of Rauma, Finland.

NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries, which is a joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, was named as preferred bidder to run the passenger, car and freight services to Orkney and Shetland by the Scottish Executive on October 5.