Pictured here in Kirkwall is The Nordic Sea…..

The Nordic Sea was a passenger ferry which operated in the Bodø area of northern Norway.

Orkney Islands Council was looking for a replacement vessel for the Golden Mariana which operates between Westray and Papa Westray. OIC decided to purchase The Nordic Sea to be used to operate in the place of the Golden Mariana. The cost was a shared purchase between OIC and the Scottish Government.

The Nordic Sea left Bergen, Norway on 23rd of April and arrived in Orkney on the 24th of April.

As you can see it is still tied up in Kirkwall.

The purchase of the ferry was ‘ in the region of £1.5 million’ 50% funded OIC 50% Scottish Government money.

Reporter: Fiona Grahame