Islanders invited to name the ship

A replacement for the NorthLink freight and livestock vessel Hascosay has been secured and is expected to come into service in late January 2010.

The replacement vessel is the 122-metre ro-ro ferry Shield which is being time-chartered from owners Seatruck Ferries of Heysham. She was built in Spain in 1999 and at ten years old is expected to be easier to maintain a reliable service in comparison to the 38 year old Hascosay.  Like Hascosay the new ship can also accommodate up to 12 passengers but the twin bunk cabins are now en suite.

NorthLink Chief Executive, Bill Davidson said: “I’m delighted that we have secured this vessel which I feel sure will be welcomed by our many freight and livestock customers.  Hascosay and her crew have done a sterling job for us over the last seven years but her age is beginning to tell and to secure reliability going forward as well as the necessary space to meet demand the time was right for us to replace Hascosay”.

Islanders are being invited to suggest a name for this latest addition to the NorthLink fleet. When NorthLink was originally awarded the Government contract to run lifeline services to and from the Northern Isles, hundreds of islanders submitted suggestions for their four ferries which were eventually named Hjaltland, Hrossey, Hamnavoe and Hascosay. Names for the new freight vessel can be suggested via the following webpage: http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/name-freight-vessel.html

NorthLink Commercial Director, Cynthia Spencer said: “We’re inviting islanders to send us suggestions which ideally should fit in with the names of the existing fleet*. We will then choose the most appropriate from those entered. The winning entry will secure for its author the prize of four return trips with cabin for two and car (or equivalent) on one of our passenger ships and also the honour of being centre-stage at the formal naming ceremony early in the New Year – and if the winner would prefer to travel on ‘their’ freight vessel then I’m sure that can be arranged!”

The quest to source a suitable replacement for Hascosay has been going on for some time.  Hascosay, which joined the NorthLink fleet in 2002,  is now 38 years old and has insufficient vehicle deck capacity to meet growing needs particularly at times of peak demand such as during the livestock season.

The time-charter arrangement, identical to that currently in place with NorthLink’s other dedicated freight vessel Clare, is an industry-standard practice and represents a value for money option for the chartering company as the owner continues to assume financial responsibility for all ship-related costs such as maintenance and repairs as well as crewing.

While the global search for a suitable replacement for Hascosay has been going on NorthLink has been holding parallel discussions with the crew of Hascosay and the seafarers’ unions Nautilus and RMT. Assurances have been given to the 40 crew members on Hascosay that they will be retained and redeployed on the company’s other vessels.