P&O Scottish Ferries
Encyclopedia
P&O Scottish Ferries ran ferry
services between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland.
in 1971. They branded their services "P&O Ferries" from 1975 to 1989 and "P&O Scottish Ferries" thereafter.
The services were taken over by Northlink Ferries
in 2002.
to Stromness
and Lerwick
, and from Scrabster
to Stromness
.
In keeping with the tradition of the company which preceded them on the route, their vessels were (with one or two exceptions) named after saint
s, such as the St Clair and the St Magnus.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland.
History
P&O took over the routes from the long-established North of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation CompanyNorth of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Company
The North of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Company, which was more usually known as The North Company, its full name rarely being used, was a British shipping company based in Aberdeen, originally formed in 1875 from a merger of older Scottish shipping companies...
in 1971. They branded their services "P&O Ferries" from 1975 to 1989 and "P&O Scottish Ferries" thereafter.
The services were taken over by Northlink Ferries
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:...
in 2002.
Services
They sailed from AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to 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:...
and Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
, and from Scrabster
Scrabster Harbour
Scrabster is a small settlement on Thurso Bay in Caithness on the north coast of Scotland. It is some 1½ miles from Thurso, 22½ miles from Wick and 112 miles from Inverness....
to 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 keeping with the tradition of the company which preceded them on the route, their vessels were (with one or two exceptions) named after saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s, such as the St Clair and the St Magnus.
Fleet
At the end of operations in 2002, the company had four vessels covering the routes:- St Ola (IV): Scrabster - StromnessStromnessStromness 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:...
- St Sunniva (III): AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
- Stromness - LerwickLerwickLerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland... - St Clair (V): Aberdeen - Lerwick
- St Rognvald (IV): Freight services, calling at Aberdeen, Stromness, KirkwallKirkwallKirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...
and Lerwick