MV Hrossey is a NorthLink Ferries vehicle and passenger ferry based in Aberdeen. Along with her sister ship, the MV Hjaltland, she operates a daily ferry service between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland.

MV Hrossey leaving Aberdeen, 2015
History
United Kingdom
NameMV Hrossey
NamesakeOld Norse name for Orkney, meaning Horse Island
Owner
  • 2002-2004: NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Limited
  • 2004-2012: RBS - RBSSAF (20) Limited
  • 2012-2018: previous owner renamed Northern Isles Ferries Limited
  • 2018-present: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
OperatorNorthLink Ferries
Port of registryKirkwall,[1] United Kingdom
RouteAberdeen to Lerwick via Kirkwall
BuilderAker Finnyards in Rauma, Finland
Cost£35million
Yard numberNB439
Laid down1 December 2001
Launched19 April 2002
Christened28 September 2002 by Kirsten Kelday
In service1 October 2002[1]
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 11,720 GT;
  • 1,831 t DWT
Displacement7,434 tonnes
Length125 m (410 ft)[1]
Beam20 m (66 ft)
Draught5.4 m (18 ft)
Decks8
Installed power4 x MAK 6M43 5400 KW each
Propulsion2x KaMeWa 4.1 meter controllable pitch propellers with 2 rudders.
Speed24 knots
Capacity
  • 600 passengers (117 cabins);
  • 140 cars (650m)[1]
Crew33

History

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MV Hrossey and her sister ship, MV Hjaltland were cboth constructed in 2002 at Aker Finnyards in Finland.[1]

In 2013 after Serco being awarded the NorthLink ferries contract MV Hrossey underwent several refurbishments as a part of its rebranding, including new “sleeping pods” and bold livery featuring a beckoning Viking.

 
MV Hrossey in 2007 Departing Kirkwall with old paint job

Layout

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MV Hrossey carries passengers, cars, freight and livestock. There is a choice of restaurants, bars and lounges, children's play area and a cinema. The restaurants and lounges have a total seating capacity of 600. The original 100 cabins had a total of 300 beds.[3] All cabins are en-suite, most being two berth, with a number of four-berth cabins for families.[4] In April 2007, an additional accommodation module was fitted at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, increasing her capacity to 356 berths.[5] The ship is fitted with lifts and was built to accommodate disabled passengers throughout. There are 10 officer and 27 crew cabins.[6]

Each pair of diesel engines drives a controllable-pitch propeller through a gearbox. There are two rudders, two 900 kW bow thrusters and two Mitsubishi stabilisers.[1][6]

Service

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MV Hrossey operates between Lerwick and Aberdeen, with a call at Kirkwall on some days. A walkway, built specifically for the current vessels, can take both foot and car passengers. She is also able to relieve on the Stromness to Scrabster crossing.

On 3 January 2015. Hrossey discovered the upturned hull of the Cypriot cargo ship Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth. A search was launched for her eight crew.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Hrossey". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Hrossey". STX Europe. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Travel to, from and around the isles". The Shetland Times. 21 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  4. ^ "North Link Hrossey Arrives on the Mersey". Irish Sea Shipping. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b "Passenger Ro-Ro Ferries for NorthLink". STX Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Major search after boat overturns off north of Scotland". BBC News Online. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
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