MV Hamnavoe
Encyclopedia
Northlink Ferries
' car and passenger ferry, MV Hamnavoe operates across the Pentland Firth
to Orkney.
route. Hamnavoe, the old Norse name for Stromness
, means 'Home Port' or 'Safe Haven'.
The ship was completed in October 2002, but due to delays in the building of the new pier in Scrabster, the Hamnavoe was laid up in Leith.
lifeline ferry service between Scrabster in Caithness
and Stromness
in Orkney. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. She sails up to six times a day, and carries approximately 155,000 passengers every year. During the summer, overnight accommodation is available on board in Stromness
before the 6.30am sailing. This route gives a superb view of the spectacular sea stack - the Old Man of Hoy
, and the tallest vertical cliff face in Britain - St Johns Head.
New piers and a walkway have been built at Scrabster and Stromness
specifically for the MV Hamnavoe, which can take both foot and car passengers. The ship and walkway are fitted with lifts and have been built to accommodate disabled passengers, both boarding and throughout the ship.
MV Hamnavoe was in dry dock (Cammell Laird
, Birkenhead) from 14 to 28 February 2010 undergoing annual maintenance. In previous years, the annual dry docks have been in Germany and Denmark. In 2011, for the first time, this ship will not be out of the water, instead receiving an in water survey in Stromness.
in Norway to rescue stranded British residents. More than 150 passengers took the 18 hour trip from Bergen to Aberdeen. On returning to her usual route, MV Hamnavoe did an unscheduled trip from Aberdeen to Stromness in Orkney carrying passengers.
Northlink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:...
' car and passenger ferry, MV Hamnavoe operates across the Pentland Firth
Pentland Firth
The Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
to Orkney.
History
MV Hamnavoe was introduced to the service in 2003, the first ferry to have been specifically built for the Pentland FirthPentland Firth
The Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
route. Hamnavoe, the old Norse name for Stromness
Stromness
Stromness is the second-biggest town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. It is also a parish, with the town of Stromness as its capital.-Etymology:...
, means 'Home Port' or 'Safe Haven'.
The ship was completed in October 2002, but due to delays in the building of the new pier in Scrabster, the Hamnavoe was laid up in Leith.
Layout
MV Hamnavoe was the third vessel in build sequence at the Aker Finnyards in Finland, the other two vessels to be built at the same time were the Hjaltland and the Hrossey. Facilities include passenger lounges and bars, a self service restaurant, a children's playroom, a sun deck and a games room. There are 12 passenger cabins - 2 and 4 berths, which are all en-suite. There are 2 specially-adapted cabins for the disabled and wheelchair access throughout the ship.Service
MV Hamnavoe operates the Pentland FirthPentland Firth
The Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
lifeline ferry service between Scrabster in Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
and Stromness
Stromness
Stromness is the second-biggest town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. It is also a parish, with the town of Stromness as its capital.-Etymology:...
in Orkney. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. She sails up to six times a day, and carries approximately 155,000 passengers every year. During the summer, overnight accommodation is available on board in Stromness
Stromness
Stromness is the second-biggest town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. It is also a parish, with the town of Stromness as its capital.-Etymology:...
before the 6.30am sailing. This route gives a superb view of the spectacular sea stack - the Old Man of Hoy
Old Man of Hoy
The Old Man of Hoy is a sea stack of red sandstone perched on a plinth of igneous basalt rock, close to Rackwick Bay on the west coast of the island of Hoy, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is a distinctive landmark seen from the Thurso to Stromness ferry, MV Hamnavoe, and is a famous rock climb...
, and the tallest vertical cliff face in Britain - St Johns Head.
New piers and a walkway have been built at Scrabster and Stromness
Stromness
Stromness is the second-biggest town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. It is also a parish, with the town of Stromness as its capital.-Etymology:...
specifically for the MV Hamnavoe, which can take both foot and car passengers. The ship and walkway are fitted with lifts and have been built to accommodate disabled passengers, both boarding and throughout the ship.
MV Hamnavoe was in dry dock (Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
, Birkenhead) from 14 to 28 February 2010 undergoing annual maintenance. In previous years, the annual dry docks have been in Germany and Denmark. In 2011, for the first time, this ship will not be out of the water, instead receiving an in water survey in Stromness.
Volcanic Ash Cloud
In April 2010 as the Volcanic Ash Cloud from Iceland closed much of Europe's airspace, MV Hamnavoe was taken off her normal route for 3 days and sent to BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in Norway to rescue stranded British residents. More than 150 passengers took the 18 hour trip from Bergen to Aberdeen. On returning to her usual route, MV Hamnavoe did an unscheduled trip from Aberdeen to Stromness in Orkney carrying passengers.