NorthLink ferry Hrossey to return on Friday

Ferry users have been given a welcome boost with the news that NorthLink’s dry-dock period will end earlier than expected.

The company announced today that the Hrossey, the last of the three ships to undergo her annual inspection, will return to service five days ahead of schedule.

NorthLink has been operating with only two of three passenger ferries since late January when each of the vessels was removed from service for three weeks to undergo extensive inspection and maintenance in the Cammell Laird dry-dock at Birkenhead.

As the NorthLink passenger fleet – the Hamnavoe, Hrossey and Hjaltland – have now been in operation for a decade the dry-dock maintenance period this year was longer and more extensive than usual.

The early return of the Hrossey, now re-entering service from Aberdeen on Friday instead of the previously scheduled Wednesday 28th March, means that the passenger fleet will be operating to full capacity for the first time since 23rd January and five days ahead of originally planned.

NorthLink managing director Bill Davidson said: “We would like to thank customers for their patience while the longer than normal dry-dock period has been in operation. Work on each of the three vessels has taken slightly less time than expected – and that is thanks to the ship’s crew and the workforce at Cammell Laird. This has meant that we have won back five days and Hrossey can enter service early which I am sure will be welcomed by our customers.

“The plan is that she will leave Birkenhead on Wednesday and will be in Aberdeen on Friday ready to take up the northbound service that evening. Our booking system is now open for normal business with the Hrossey and Hjaltland soon to be operating to their regular schedule.”