Shetlander Graham Irvine has started a petition to gauge local support for a summer ferry link to Norway "allowing our islands to take advantage of our unique position as the gateway to Scandinavia."
In the preamble to the petition he points out that while the Scottish government ferries contract is up for renegotiation and reviewal, it prevents Northlink from having summer sailings to Norway, due to being a life line service. This review states “as a general principle, no potential routes will be excluded from the review” and “this will include consideration of new routes and reconfiguration of existing routes” it also seeks to “maximise the opportunities for employment, business, leisure and tourism, and promoting social inclusion”.
The review can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/review
Taking advantage of the unique position of the northern isles, he believes that a reliable Scandinavian ferry link would help to open business and tourism opportunities, and that any profits made on these sailings could be retained by Northlink to help fund the life line service.
The wording of the petition, available by clicking here, is as follows:
"We, the undersigned, call on the Scottish Government to allow Northlink to operate a summer sailing season to Norway as previously carried out by P&O.
We believe this would help retain our social, historical and cultural links with Scandinavia, while promoting social inclusion and helping reopen business and tourism opportunities for our Islands."
As of this morning, the second day of the petition, 236 people have signed.
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