MV Hrossey and her sister ship, were cboth constructed in 2002 at Aker Finnyards in Finland.[1]
In 2013 after Serco being awarded the NorthLink ferries contract MV Hrossey underwent several refurbishments as a part of its rebranding, including new “sleeping pods” and bold livery featuring a beckoning Viking.
MV Hrossey carries passengers, cars, freight and livestock. There is a choice of restaurants, bars and lounges, children's play area and a cinema. The restaurants and lounges have a total seating capacity of 600. The original 100 cabins had a total of 300 beds.[2] All cabins are en-suite, most being two berth, with a number of four-berth cabins for families.[3] In April 2007, an additional accommodation module was fitted at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, increasing her capacity to 356 berths.[4] The ship is fitted with lifts and was built to accommodate disabled passengers throughout. There are 10 officer and 27 crew cabins.
Each pair of diesel engines drives a controllable-pitch propeller through a gearbox. There are two rudders, two 900 kW bow thrusters and two Mitsubishi stabilisers.[1] [5]
MV Hrossey operates between Lerwick and Aberdeen, with a call at Kirkwall on some days. A walkway, built specifically for the current vessels, can take both foot and car passengers. She is also able to relieve on the Stromness to Scrabster crossing.
On 3 January 2015. Hrossey discovered the upturned hull of the Cypriot cargo ship in the Pentland Firth. A search was launched for her eight crew.[6]