Responses to a public consultation on the next Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract recommends better dedicated provision for freight, reports Peter Brown.
The consultation, which ended on 20 October 2025, asked the public and businesses to help shape the future of ferry services on the next Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract (NIFS4). It garnered 1,129 responses, with around a third of the responses for freight.
Asked ‘how could the NIFS contract operator improve how it works with hauliers and businesses to more effectively plan commercial traffic volumes’, the most frequent comment was ‘keeping freight off passenger vessels and sailings’.
This was a particular concern for Shetland residents, who said the solution needed to be extra freight services or larger vessels.
By contrast, other respondents said any new contract should note ‘the importance of freight services to the local economy and to certain key industries in particular’, with reference to the growing scale of renewable energy developments and the importance of seafood exports to the economy, and the delivery of essential goods and services.
Regarding management of the current capacity, it was noted that hauliers had previously raised concerns that the freight from Orkney bound for Aberdeen is prioritised below freight from Shetland.
What’s more, Orkney-based hauliers have experienced problems with receiving empty trailers back from Aberdeen due to capacity issues on board the vessels.
It was proposed that extra services be put on in the shorter term, as well as an ‘out of hours’ service on the Stromness route for Orkney.
Other suggestions included using data analysis to forecast peak demand, off-peak pricing to spread demand and cooperative logistics agreements for smaller hauliers. Reducing the cost for freight services also dominated replies to the consultation, as they impacted negatively on goods and services across the Northern Isles.
There was strong support for the introduction of additional freight and passenger capacity when the two Freight Flex vessels come into service in 2029.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said procurement is progressing for two new freight flex vessels to serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route. A ‘freight flex’ option will bring improved freight capacity, higher operating speed and the flexibility to provide space for up to 200 passengers to travel at peak times.
Click here for the full NIFS4 report.
