Publication - FOI/EIR release

Transport Scotland - NorthLink Ferries running cost query: FOI release

Published: 23 July 2026
Topic: Public sector, Transport
FOI reference: FOI/202600501833
Date received: 16 January 2026
Date responded: 13 February 2026

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

How much, if anything, Transport Scotland or the Scottish Government provides the contractors (Serco) to run the NorthLink ferry service.

Response

The table below sets out the total subsidy provided under the current NIFS3 contract, including all fuel costs and vessel charter payments.

	CY1	CY2	CY3	CY4	CY5
Subsidy	£39,624,596	£44,354,906	£52,927,365	£52,309,144	£46,711,438

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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