NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries today (Monday, June 9) announces that it is to Time Charter from Gulf Offshore the former Norse Island Ferries freight vessel MV St Rognvald.

The addition of the St Rognvald to the NorthLink fleet is intended to be for a period of some five months – until the end of October – with options for an extension of the charter once traffic volumes have been evaluated.

NorthLink commercial director Gareth Crichton said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce that we will be expanding our freight service by chartering St Rognvald. The extra vessel will allow us to meet peak demands over the next five months, including the livestock season. We will bring the vessel into service immediately on a back-to-back schedule with our own freighter MV Hascosay.”

NorthLink has agreed terms with vessel owners, Gulf Offshore, which means that St Rognvald will be kept on its regular route under Gulf’s technical management and with current crew but flying NorthLink colours and carrying cargoes for NorthLink’s customers.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson added: “Since the announcement last Friday that Norse Islands Ferries were to cease trading we have been speaking with our customers and carefully considering our position.

“We believe that adding St Rognvald to the fleet for the next few months will give us ample capacity through the peak visitor season and on into the livestock season where we had already planned to introduce a second ro-ro alongside the Buffalo Express – the dedicated livestock carrier which will also be on charter for the livestock season.

“The charter of St Rognvald to the end of October will give us new capacity and increased flexibility for livestock shipment during these two key months,” said Davidson.

He added: “Today’s announcement means that St Rognvald will be operating under the NorthLink flag immediately. In addition to our passenger ship services beginning today we are introducing a nightly (Mon-Sat) freight service to and from Aberdeen running St Rognvald back-to-back with Hascosay. The service will also go south via Orkney on Monday and return north via Orkney on Saturday.”

Customer inquiries should be directed to the NorthLink freight reservations desk on 01856 850239