11 February 2008
INVITATIONS TO TENDER FOR NORSHUKON LINK
Following the receipt of Expressions of Interest, the NORSHUKON LINK Project Partners have agreed to invite three potential operators to tender for the service. Tenders are due in by mid March with the appointment of a preferred bidder scheduled for early April.
The minimum specification for the route is the provision of a freight (RoRo) service, however, proposals which include the provision of a service for passengers (RoPax) will be welcomed.
The number of Project Partners has recently increased to 4 with the addition of the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) to the group. Like ZetTrans, SEStran are one of 7 Regional Transport Partnerships in Scotland – SEStran has the Forth Ports area within its boundary. Møregruppen AS and Shetland Development Trust (SDT) continue as partners.
Notes to Editor:
The NORSHUKON LINK is an initiative aimed at providing a new Motorway of the Sea ferry link between mid Norway (Kristiansund), Shetland, the UK and the Continent. The key objectives of the new service, which will possibly link in with existing UK / Continental services, are: to shift significant volumes of freight from road to sea between Norway – UK and Norway – Continent; to increase tourism potential in the areas served; to reduce peripherality and improve socio-economic cohesion across the connected areas. The service is being promoted under the banner of NORSHUKON LINK - the acronym signifying the areas involved in the project.