31 March 2007

NORTHLINK has chartered another freight ship after it emerged that the company’s vessel Hascosay will have to stay in dry dock longer than expected.

The shipping company is bringing in the French owned Toucan while the Hascosay is undergoing additional rudder repairs.

She was originally meant to be back in service on 3 April, but will now be out of service for a further two weeks.

The Toucan will sail from Aberdeen tomorrow (Sunday) and arrive in Lerwick on Monday morning. From there she will resume normal service.

NorthLink had previously chartered the Toucan’s sister ship Colibri for a few weeks in 2004.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson said: “Colibri was a successful stand-in vessel for us a few years ago, so I’m sure Toucan will do a good job until Hascosay is able to return to service.”