Passenger cabin accommodation on the NorthLink vessels Hjaltland and Hrossey is set to increase dramatically with the provision of 22 additional cabins on each ferry.

The 125-metre sister ships, which came into service in 2002, were especially constructed for the Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick routes. Each ro-ro vessel is capable of carrying 600 passengers plus cars and freight.

Currently, in addition to recliner seats, each vessel has provision for 95 passenger cabins encompassing some 280 berths. The extra cabins will mean that each vessel can provide an additional 76 berths.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson said: "The decision to provide the additional cabins reflects the very significant and most welcome increase in passenger traffic - both islanders and tourists - since NorthLink took over the service to the Northern Isles four years ago.

"The island communities have made it known to us that they wish to see more cabins on the boats and we're delighted to be in a position to meet their wishes. The project, which is not grant funded, is costing £3m but we consider that it will be money well spent," said Mr Davidson.

Responding to NorthLink's announcement, Transport Minister Tavish Scott MSP said:

"I very much welcome this important enhancement to the services between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland. I am aware of the pressure there has been on cabin accommodation due to the major growth in passenger numbers on these routes. While this pressure has been particularly intensive during the main holiday seasons, cabins have also been in short supply on the busier sailings throughout the year. 

“This announcement will bring major benefits to islanders and tourists alike. It is another example of this devolved government's commitment to supporting Scotland's island communities and their economies,” he said.

NorthLink has been seeking bids from shipbuilders throughout the UK and Europe. Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders of Birkenhead have emerged from that exhaustive process as the Preferred Bidder. Detailed discussion of contractual matters is now in hand with the aim of signing in the next few weeks.

The new passenger accommodation will be provided by means of constructing a new crew accommodation module on the upper deck of each vessel. The existing crew accommodation on the main passenger cabin deck will then be refurbished to accommodate passengers.

The plan is for the conversion work to be carried out as part of the vessels' routine annual dry-dock period with one vessel going to dock in the three weeks prior to Easter and the other in the three weeks after Easter. This plan is designed to keep disruption to a minimum.