MV Hamnavoe

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NorthLink Ferries - MV Hamnavoe docked at Scrabster Harbour

The Pentland Firth vessel MV Hamnavoe operates between Scrabster in Caithness and Stromness in Orkney. The ferry is operated by NorthLink Ferries and is the lifeline ferry service to the Orkney islands.

The name hamnavoe means 'Home Port' or 'Safe Haven'; it is also the old Norse name for Stromness.

The ship was introduced to the service in 2002 and is the first time that a ship has been specifically built for the Pentland Firth route. The vessel was designed to a cruise ship standard and is extremely comfortable. It was also built to the highest standards of safety. There are lounges, bars, a self service restaurant, a childrens' playroom, comfortable cabins, and a shop with travel items, local gifts and jewellery and perfume (all at extremely reasonable prices).

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.

The ferry sails up to six times a day, and carries approximately 155,000 passengers to and from Orkney every year. The journey is approximately 1 1/2 hours long. During the summer, you can stay overnight aboard the MV Hamnavoe in Stromness for the 6.30am sailing, and arrive at 8.00am in Scrabster fully rested. The MV Hamnavoe is the only transport option to Orkney where you will pass and get a superb view of the spectacular sea stack - the Old Man of Hoy, and the tallest vertical cliff face in Britain - St Johns Head.

1 Ship Details
2 Onboard Facilities
3 Dimensions
4 Capacities
5 Route
6 External links

[edit] Ship Details

Type: Steel DSMV Roll-on/roll-off
Ordered By: NorthLink Ferries
Built: 2002
Cost: £28.000.000
Launched: 11/27/2001
Entered Service: 01/04/2003
Builders: Aker Finnyards
Yard No: 440
Engine Builders: MAK
Machinery: 2 x Diesel fuel providing 8,680 kW or 11640 BHP
Speed: 19 kts
Registered: Kirkwall
Launched by: Aker Finnyards

[edit] Onboard Facilities

Comfortable lounges
Self service and a la carte restaurants
Shop selling snacks, gift items, and practical travel products
Bars
Sun decks
Games room
Internal telephones
Toilets
Baby changing facilities
Children’s play areas
Disabled access throughout ships
Well-appointed cabins – all en-suite with hairdryers, shaver points and air conditioning
Specially-adapted cabins for the disabled, allowing easy wheelchair access
Easy drive-through access to ship