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- PASSENGER FIGURES RISE BY MORE THAN 45% IN UNDER THREE YEARS -

More people then ever before are using NorthLink Ferries’ lifeline services.

August 2005 was NorthLink’s busiest ever month, with the company carrying more than 44,000 passengers on its Orkney and Shetland routes.

Since the ferry provider assumed responsibility for the Northern Isles services in October 2002, passenger figures for the Shetland routes have risen by more than 40,000, with the equivalent figures for Orkney up by almost 55,000.

In the year to end August 2005, NorthLink has carried 299,384 passengers, compared to the 205,159 carried by its predecessor P&O Scottish Ferries in the year to end August 2002.

While NorthLink is the sole provider of ferry services between Scotland and Shetland, in Orkney there is direct competition for passengers on the Pentland Firth crossing.  Nevertheless, in August alone, NorthLink carried more than 23,000 passengers on the traditional Orkney route between Scrabster and Stromness, along with almost 5,000 passengers on the new Aberdeen-Kirkwall services. 

Gareth Crichton, NorthLink’s commercial director, said: “The continuing growth of traffic to and from Shetland is very pleasing, as is the fact that NorthLink is undoubtedly the popular choice for travellers in and out of Orkney.

“These figures are hugely encouraging and are testament to the hard work, professionalism, and commitment of our staff. Since we took over the routes, we’ve worked hard to promote ferry travel for islanders as well as holidays for visitors to both Orkney and Shetland and I think we, along with many other businesses in the Northern Isles, are now reaping the benefits of those efforts.”