Pentalina

About three weeks ago the big Northlink Serco ferry, the Hamnavoe, which goes between Scrabster on the north coast of Scotland to Stromness in Orkney, broke down. The company aren't putting on a replacement ferry, although it won't be coming back into service until at least the 24th May.

In the meantime a lot of the traffic is coming into Orkney via St Margaret's Hope, on this ferry, locally owned and locally run without the huge subsidy which Serco gets for supposedly providing a Life Line service. While their boat is out of commission they are being fined a far tinier amount than the subsidy they have been given, so it really isn't worth their while trying to find a replacement, they are still making a killing! Tempers are running high, Stromness is really suffering economically, as is the tourist industry generally. Still, it means there is a lot more income coming into this end of the islands so, as they say "It's an ill wind . . . ".

There are screeds and screeds to read on this dispute on line, should the mood take you!