12 February 2008

THREE potential operators have been invited to tender for a new cargo service that would connect Norway with the UK.

The NORSHUKON LINK project is a collaboration of one private Norwegian and three public bodies in the UK who hope to provide a new Motorway of the Sea which would link in to existing freight services. As such the project could attract European subsidies to kick start a new ferry link.

A statement from NORSHUKON yesterday (Monday) said the project partners hoped to be able to appoint a preferred bidder by early April.

The minimum specification for the route is the provision of a ro-ro freight service between Kristiansund, in mid Norway, Shetland and a UK mainland port, possibly Rosyth.

A spokeswoman for NORSHUKON added that proposals which include the provision of a service for passengers (RoPax) would be welcomed.

The project partners are Møregruppen AS, Shetland Development Trust (SDT), the Shetland transport partnership ZetTrans. The Southeast of Scotland transport partnership, SEStran, recently joined the consortium.