‘Crisis’ at NorthLink, Labour warns
A crisis is brewing aboard NorthLink’s ferries, the Labour party’s Shetland branch has warned.
It has called on pods to be replaced by separate male and female dormitories, amid concerns travellers are being made unsafe due to a lack of proper sleeping accommodation.
In a letter to NorthLink’s managing director Stuart Garrett, branch secretary Gordon Thomson says the “much vaunted” pods in mixed dormitories are insecure and threatening, especially to solo female travellers.
He has also called for a return of shared cabins.
And travellers eligible for vouchers that allow up to four trips should have a cabin included in the provision, he says.
“The Labour Party in Shetland believes there is a crisis aboard NorthLink’s Aberdeen-Shetland ferries,” Mr Thomson states in his letter, which has also been sent to Scottish transport minister Fiona Hyslop.
“Travellers are in many cases being made unsafe, uncomfortable and unwell due to lack of proper sleeping accommodation.
“Shetland residents travelling alone and using their Scottish government travel vouchers are
discriminated against.
“The much-vaunted pods in mixed dormitories are insecure, threatening – especially to solo
female travellers – and extremely uncomfortable.
“Too few cabins are available and the booking system encourages advance ‘holding’ bookings that are often cancelled at the last minute. This is inefficient and unacceptable.”
He stated people were choosing to sleep on the floor, but a good night’s sleep would never be possible in those circumstances.
“Those facing long drives next day are being put at serious risk,” he added.
“Sharing of cabins by solo travellers is not officially allowed, and that means that Shetland residents travelling alone with concessions and using Scottish government travel vouchers are having to use all four of their vouchers to secure cabin accommodation for one return trip, or pay extra for exclusive use of cabins.
“This is inefficient and unacceptable. It seems to illustrate an intrinsic bias against Shetland residents with concessions.”
NorthLink has been contacted for a response.
Steve Skahill
What is making certain individuals feel unsafe? If things are that bad, more dormitories treat the symptom, not the cause. And what about the “transgenders”? Will a male conveniently identify as a female to enter a women’s dorm?
Pete Hamilton
Well done Shetland Labour for speaking up on this. Other design solutions need looking at
cecil Robertson
Passengers need more accomodation including more cabins which means bigger boats which would result in more space for cargo, freight, containers etc, but Aberdeen cant accomodatel larger vessels. Change the destination to Dundee which has excellemt marine and local onward transport and medical facilities and does not have Aberdeen’s restrictive problems. Transport Scotland, SIC, Scottish government and quangos — please take note, plan, design and provide vessels acceptable for Shetland’s requirements.