New sleeping pods on overnight ferries welcomed

New lie-flat sleeping pods installed on overnight ferries between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland are proving a hit - selling out on the first night they were open to the public.

The upgrade by Serco NorthLink Ferries replaced 30 sleeping pods which only partially reclined with 18 electronically-powered seats that convert into fully-flat beds.

The move follows years of passenger complaints about cabin capacity, affordability and safety concerns over potentially driving while still tired.

Susan Taylor, who lives in Orkney and frequently uses the ferry, was one of the first customers to use the new pods and said they made a "massive difference".

Previously, passengers unable to book a cabin could choose between traditional pods which did not go completely flat, a reclining chair, or sleeping in the vessel's public areas - sometimes including on the floor.

Last year, Transport Scotland asked islanders what they wanted to see from the new Northern Isles ferry services contract.

The consultation found that some passengers felt reclining seats did not provide adequate rest on the long overnight journeys.

Taylor said getting a decent night's sleep was "massively important".

"I'd never used a (traditional) pod - my daughter had been in them and said you just couldn't get comfortable, so for me it's either a cabin or nothing," she said.

"I feel that because I'm going from Orkney to Shetland and back, I don't want to take up a cabin that other people could have.

"So for me it's a good halfway house where I can get some sleep but I'm not taking up a cabin that someone who is going all the way to Aberdeen might need."

She has been up to Shetland numerous times already this year and goes down to Aberdeen too.

"It's one of these things where you think, what a massive difference it makes," she added.

"It's also cheaper than a cabin, and it was just so comfortable and quiet, I felt quite safe in the lounge."

Green councillor on Shetland Islands Council, Alex Armitage, has long campaigned for more horizontal sleeping spaces and welcomed the new lie-flat pods.

He said: "I'm really pleased. NorthLink Ferries are a really important lifeline service for islanders.

"A lot of people using the ferry have to work or drive or do safety-critical activities the next day.

"So, if people can't get a good night's sleep, then there's real danger related to that, particularly for people who have to drive long distances.

"From a health and safety point of view, getting a better night's sleep on the boat is absolutely critical."

Designed by Norwegian company Eknes, the new pods are thought to be a first in the marine industry and cost £30 to book.

Each pod comes with a duvet and pillow, as well as a built-in table, a three-point power socket and USB charging point.

Seamus Campbell, onboard services manager on the ferry Hrossey, said it was "quite exciting" to see something new offered to islanders instead of the traditional pods.

If the lie-flat pods prove popular, he added that there may be the opportunity to include them in the designs for two new vessels expected to come into service in 2029.

He said: "We're looking forward to the introduction of the new freight-flex vessels in a few years' time and this gives us the option to test the waters on how successful these could be."