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NORTHLINK Ferries has been showcasing its new state-of-the-art livestock containers at the Turriff Show, with First Minister Alex Salmond, rural affairs and environment minister Richard Lockhead and transport minister Stewart Stevenson all seeing the new double-deck containers first hand.

Backed by Scottish Government funding, the lifeline ferry operator between the Scottish mainland and the Northern Isles has invested more than £3 million in the new containers, which aim to improve standards of livestock shipment, animal welfare and bio-security.

NorthLink’s chief executive Bill Davidson reported a strong flow of positive interest and feedback on the new containers - which are understood to be unique in the marine livestock transportation sector - during the two-day event in Aberdeenshire.

Mr Davidson said the First Minister had spent around 15 minutes on Sunday inspecting the new container at the NorthLink stand and hearing about the improved cost-effective benefits they would provide for the local agricultural communities.

The Turriff Show is widely regarded as one of the biggest two-day agricultural shows in Scotland, with around 45,000 people attending.

The 48 new double-deck containers are being manufactured by Stewarts, the Inverurie firm well known for their high quality farm trailers. As well as the new containers there has been extensive investments made in shore lairage in Lerwick and Aberdeen with the new lairage in Kirkwall due for completion shortly.

Mr Davidson said: “The Turriff show gave us a chance to let livestock producers and buyers view our new state-of-the-art containers and see the high quality way in which their animals will be transported between the islands and the mainland.

“We’re very proud of our new livestock containers and the interest and feedback we have received has been very positive.