NorthLink has taken full delivery of its new £2m fleet of specially designed livestock trailers on budget and ahead of schedule.

The 48 containers, 46 of which are 12 metres in length and two at 6 metres, are unique in the maritime livestock transportation sector as they pre-empt pending statutory requirements.

The £2.2m contract for design, construction and delivery of the cutting-edge livestock transportation trailers to NorthLink Ferries has been completed by Stewart Agricultural Ltd of Daviot, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, with the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) contract going to Transtec Equipment Ltd of Kendal, Cumbria.

The contract, awarded on a rolling delivery basis, began in early 2008 with the first few containers going into operation in May of that year.

NorthLink received the final consignment of containers on February 16, one month ahead of schedule. James Stewart of Stewart Agricultural was on hand in Kirkwall Orkney to oversee completion of the contract with NorthLink freight logistics manager Eddie Barclay.

Eddie said: “Shipment of livestock to and from Orkney and Shetland to the Scottish mainland represents one of the genuinely ‘lifeline’ facets of our service. With the Stewart Agricultural commitment to service and professionalism we have seen the containers enter service on time and on budget, the introduction of these containers has meant a real leap forward in our service provision in relation livestock transportation. They represent a hugely significant improvement in the mechanics of moving stock, often in difficult weather conditions, to and from the Northern Isles. We think they represent a significant success story in the NorthLink offering.”

The containers designed for NorthLink by James Stewart are based on the company’s market-leading livestock trailer, a robust 12 metre aluminium double-decked container incorporating innovative design features to meet stringent new EU regulations. James Stewart said: “We were delighted to win this contract and pleased that we have been able to deliver on time and budget. We worked closely with Northlink and local farmers to design a container which not only meets the regulations but ensures stock arrive at their destination in top-class condition.”

The Ro–Ro container project has progressed well following lengthy consultation with third-party stakeholders such as mart operators and the Scottish Veterinary Service. Additional investment has also gone into shore-side infrastructure with new lairage facilities at Lerwick, Kirkwall and Aberdeen Harbour being a particular feature of the improved livestock transportation infrastructure.