The North Boat (Northlink ferries)

[blue beetle]

Tavish just blurts out little sound bites nowadays. He must have someone thinking them up. I dont think hes ever had a thought of his own. As he proved on election night TV when still wittering on about the "old partys" until he was told to shut up. Embarrasing or what.? Back to the ferries . Surely someone could look at the forecast and if its going to be a SE gale at Aberdeen they should just go to Scrabster. It would only happen a few times a year so im sure we would cope. To simple probably.?

[Ghostrider]

Were the current North Boats designed and built with the drawbacks of Aberdeen Harbour in mind, or is this just one more thing to support the suspicion that they were built to a generic design that ensured they were easily sold on if the whole scheme went belly up.

 

I ask, as time and again it seems they can't use Aberdeen, but the port is still open, and other vessels are freely using it. Not being particularly nautically minded I've not studied the relevant designs, but I presume the problem arises due to the amount of water they draw. Was it really necessary they have the draught they do, could a slightly different hull profile not have done the same job, especially when it could have been ascertained and forseen that building them as is there was potential for problems arising with safe water depth to operate in at one of their two main ports.

[Longdog]

Just out of interest does anyone have figures for the percentage of cancellations of the boat compared to percentage of cancellations of the plane?

 

Be interesting to see how it compares to cancellations of services as a whole (UK planes and ferries).

[Guest Anonymous]

Care to expand on your losses - is this fresh stuff? isn't it insured?

 

Not being funny, just always assumed that the delays were little more than inconvience.

 

when fresh produce does not arrive then I cant sell it therfor no income.

yet I still have to pay wages I still have to run a van into town to pick up virtually nothing for zero gain, you can insure against the unexpected not against the boat not sailing.

hello mr insurance man I want to insure myself against losses incurred when the boats dont sail OK says insurance man how much did you lose last year X pounds, OK then that will be X pounds to insure you then. doesnt make much sense does it

[Mutton]

I see there was a man complaining in the Shetland Times that the boat should have never sailed. Well in his '50 years of sailing' it should have occurred to him that it could be a little bumpy and that Aberdeen harbour may shut.

 

Good on Northlink for giving it a go. It should go out on all but the very worst weather leaving it for the passenger to make the decision whether to sail or not. This is a lifeline service not a cruise.

[Infiltrator]

This is a lifeline service not a cruise.

 

Try telling Northlink that, the prices don't reflect a lifeline service.

[nolink81]

This is a lifeline service not a cruise.

 

Try telling Northlink that, the prices don't reflect a lifeline service.

 

Northlink don't set the fares the Scottish Government do...

[stephen]

This is a lifeline service not a cruise.

 

Try telling Northlink that, the prices don't reflect a lifeline service.

 

The cost to travel one way varies between £15 - £25 for an adult depending on when you travel. This is for a 12 hour journey. The train on the mainland equates to be about £4 per 30 minutes.

 

Remember that you do not NEED a cabin, and you do not NEED to take your car. I am sure every tax payer in the country would agree that any lifeline service that is subsidised should be basic. Northlink provide a basic service at a very reasonable cost - and knowing the fact that I can afford to book tonights sailing i the event of an emergency is a comforting thought.

 

I think we also need to remember that at least half of NorthLinks sailings are near empty and not viable. If this was a private company I have little doubt that it would be sailings every other day, a much shorter route (ie. sumburugh to Joh o' Groats) and more expensive.

 

Northink is far from being expensive IMO.

[Medziotojas]

Remember that you do not NEED a cabin

 

Fair enough for the individual traveller, but for anyone travelling with a young family I would suggest a cabin is most necessary.

[stephen]

Im sorry to seem like I am contradicting you at every stage... but I don't think you do. Basic facilities are provided in the form of reclining seats. And if you take a family and do choose a cabin it works out at about £20 per head extra. So, A 12 hour over night journey with cabin (and facilities such as towels, private shower and now tea and coffee) for £40 per person. You would struggle to get a hotel room for that in a major city.

 

Indeed the Sleeper Train service (also subsidised) costs much more - and they have the benefit of cheaper fuel/ the need for less of it (electricity) and you don't get as many services.

[unlinkedstudent]

Im sorry to seem like I am contradicting you at every stage... but I don't think you do. Basic facilities are provided in the form of reclining seats. And if you take a family and do choose a cabin it works out at about £20 per head extra. So, A 12 hour over night journey with cabin (and facilities such as towels, private shower and now tea and coffee) for £40 per person. You would struggle to get a hotel room for that in a major city.

 

Indeed the Sleeper Train service (also subsidised) costs much more - and they have the benefit of cheaper fuel/ the need for less of it (electricity) and you don't get as many services.

 

Sleeper to London is £64 for a reclining seat - I need to attend a client bash in December and trying to look at cost effective means of getting there and back - my maths is lousy but given the mileage, how does that compare with the (Non-)recliner seats on Northlink?

[JustMe]

On my last trip south I got from Aberdeen to London on the train for less than a tenner. How does that compare with Northlink?. Admittedly that was an advance ticket and I used a railcard and it was not the sleeper train but I think that shows what sort of fares people on the mainland can get.

[MJ]

£19 each way in a twin berth on the sleeper Aberdeen to London, sure you have to book in advance. but I figured last easter when looking at going to Paris it was cheaper getting to Paris from Aberdeen than getting to Aberdeen. £180 by train for the 2 of us. seemed to defeat the purpose flying to aberdeen, I hate CDG, so didn't want to fly to Paris. £19 tickets are still available on the sleeper, but even for xmas season there are berths going for cheaper than £64

[JAStewart]

Dear oh dear northlink. New boat is called Helliar. Hell + Liar. Sums it up really eh

[suuusssiiieee]

With a name like that lets hope she does not get plagued with bad luck.....