NorthLink Ferries announces that its Pentland Firth service operating between Stromness in Orkney and Scrabster on the Scottish mainland is scheduled to resume at 06.30 on Friday morning and that an additional sailing from Aberdeen - Stromness is to be made available on Thursday night.

The ro-ro ferry Hamnavoe which operates on the route has been off-station since Tuesday night when she was diverted at the request of the Scottish Government to pick up stranded travellers in Norway. Bookings are still being taken but as of 10.00 on Wednesday morning some 250 travellers had registered to sail. Hamnavoe is due to sail from Bergen to Aberdeen tonight with a mid-afternoon (Thursday) arrival time in Aberdeen.

After disembarking passengers from Bergen in Aberdeen, MV Hamnavoe will then be made ready for an unprecedented commercial sailing to Stromness.

Check-in for this sailing opens at 16.00 for a 17.00 departure and a midnight (Thursday) arrival in Stromness.

Passengers wishing to make use of the Aberdeen - Stromness sailing can do so through the NorthLink website or by calling the NorthLink booking centre on 0845 6000 449 or in person at the Aberdeen ferry terminal.

After her arrival in Stromness on Thursday night Hamnavoe will resume normal service on the Pentland Firth at 0630 on Friday.