McArthur raises concerns over refit arrangements for MV Hamnavoe

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has criticised the decision by the Scottish Government not to put in place a replacement vessel to cover MV Hamnavoe during the dry dock period, scheduled for early in the new year.

During Portfolio Questions afternoon (29 November) Mr McArthur highlighted specific concerns raised by local independent butchers in Orkney, who will be directly and adversely affected by the lack of a service on the Stromness-Scrabster route over this period.

At present, the butchers buy locally reared beef and lamb at the Auction Mart which is then shipped to Dingwall for slaughter before being returned in refrigerated lorries. In a letter to the Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, each of these local businesses expressed dismay at the loss of service between Stromness and Scrabster and the threat this posed to the butchers meeting the contracts they have with schools, care homes and the health board in Orkney.

During Rural Affairs Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Mr McArthur reminded Ministers that, over the years, there had been a steady downgrading of the service over the refit period. While a ropax vessel was previously chartered to provide cover, recent years have seen MV Hamnavoe replaced with a freight vessel during its fortnight in dry dock. Orkney’s MSP pointed out that Scottish Ministers appear now to have abandoned the route entirely over this period, making a mockery of its commitment to the lifeline service.

Responding to the concerns raised by local butchers, Environment Minister Gillian Martin confirmed the government’s desire to expand abattoir availability across Scotland, including in the islands.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:

"The steady erosion of the service between Stromness and Scrabster, from timetable reductions to now the removal of a service over the refit period, illustrates how stretched ferry provision is across the country. It also reflects the extent of Scottish Government mismanagement and a failure by a very long line of Transport Ministers to plan ahead.

“The concerns raised by local independent butchers in Orkney provides an excellent example of the real life consequences of that short term thinking and failure to plan ahead.

“While I welcome the Minister’s willingness to engage with the community in Orkney over the potential for a local abattoir facility to be reopened, this does not ease the more immediate problems faced by local businesses as a result of this disruption to key supply chains.  It also shows a cavalier disregard for the purpose and importance of a lifeline service. Rather than the mend and make do approach we have seen over recent years, Scottish Ministers need to invest in building a ferry fleet with the resilience our island communities need.”