TWO new freight ferries for the Northern Isles will be built in either Turkey or China, it has been revealed.
Transport Scotland announced on Monday that four companies would be invited to submit detailed proposals, or tenders, for the new contracts for the Northern Isles network.
Cemre and Tersan in Turkey, GSI in China, Stena UK alongside reliance partner CMJL, Weihai, China, have all been selected to progress to the first stage of the process.
Once built, the two new freight vessels will serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route and will cost an estimated £200 million, including the project costs and shore power upgrades.
The two vessels will have the capacity to carry up to 200 passengers during peak months.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said the shortlist of firms for the contract is an “important milestone” in the Scottish Government's plans to improve the ferry services.
She said: “The Scottish Government is committed to investing in our ferry fleet to better meet the needs of island communities, so I’m very pleased to see the second stage of the procurement process for two new freight flex vessels get underway.
“These new vessels will have increased freight capacity, higher operating speeds, and additional capacity for passengers in peak season. This will enhance the efficiency and reliability of ferry services to better support the needs of businesses and communities in the Northern Isles for years to come.
“This is an important milestone in our plans to improve ferry services, and I look forward to following the progress of this project over the coming months.”
Tender returns are expected by late November 2025, with the awarding of the contract expected in February 2026.
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive at CMAL, said the freighter-flex design will help accommodate both busy passenger times and maximise the capacity of commercial vehicles.
He said: “These new vessels will bring a huge increase in capacity for freight and passengers.
“The desire for an increased freight provision was regularly mentioned throughout our public engagement sessions, but so too was additional passenger accommodation to add resilience to the fleet.
“The freighter-flex design allows us to meet both needs: accommodating up to 200 passengers during peak months or alternatively reverting to freight mode to maximise commercial vehicle capacity.
“We look forward to seeing the four tender returns in late November 2025, at which point they will be assessed thoroughly against technical and commercial criteria.”
Stuart Garrett, managing director at Serco NorthLink, added: “We are really pleased that the Freight Flex project has now moved to the ITT phase and look forward to continuing to work closely with all relevant parties, particularly with a view to ensuring key Contract award dates can be met.”
