The NorthLink freight and livestock vessel MV Hascosay has been sold to a Middle East buyer and she will be leaving her temporary berth in Kirkwall within the next few days bound for Beirut in the first instance.

Hascosay, which covered some 432,000 nautical miles since joining the NorthLink fleet eight years ago, was replaced by the newer and larger MV Hildasay three weeks ago.

She has been purchased by a Jordanian buyer and will now be used for shipping livestock to Jordan from Brazil, Georgia and Romania.

Since leaving NorthLink’s service, Hascosay has found a temporary home in Kirkwall. She is now scheduled to leave for a shipyard in Beirut where she will undergo some modifications designed to facilitate her new livestock-only role.

Her regular NorthLink crew of around 17 will undertake the 12-day voyage to Beirut from where they will fly home to resume work on other vessels within the NorthLink fleet.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson said: “We’re delighted to have secured a buyer for Hascosay. During her eight years with us, many people grew very attached to her and it would have been particularly sad if such a sturdy vessel had gone to scrap.”