29 September 2007

THE LATEST design of livestock shipping containers for the northern isles freight vessels has been unveiled to industry approval.

The issue of NorthLink Ferries providing suitable livestock containers to transport animals from the isles has been a contentious issue for some time.

Previous prototypes had been dismissed by agricultural experts in both Orkney and Shetland, including foldable Chinese made models and double decker containers.

The new type of container was on show at Hatson, Kirkwall on Thursday and yesterday (Friday) morning in Lerwick.

Chair of Shetland Livestock Marketing Group, Jim Budge, said: “These are certainly 110 percent better than the last lot that came up here, that is for sure.

“To me they are extremely well made and designed. The workmanship I would say is first class, there are very minor issues like location of hinges, but overall I am very impressed with the final product.”

The prototype container has been developed in two parts with the box section manufactured by Stewart Agricultural, of Inverurie, the trailer itself by Transtec Equipment, from Poland.

The component sections will be brought together at the Inverurie workshops of Stewart Trailer.

A NorthLink spokesman said: “One advantage of working through Stewart Trailers is that the standard of manufacture and component parts have all been tried and tested on road-going floats.

“Plus, the design elements have featured wholly on the specific parameters of our roll-on roll-off sea freight operation.

“We intend to nail down final design issues over the next couple of weeks, then move towards contracts for the full manufacture of what we hope will be the preferred shipping system for stock from Shetland and Orkney for many years to come.”