Lerwick, Shetland, United Kingdom – Moregruppen AS, Shetland Development Trust and ZetTrans (Shetland Transport Partnership) are pleased to announce they have received four expressions of interest in the opportunity to develop a new Motorway of the Sea Ro-Pax ferry service between Mid-Norway, Shetland and the UK.

The proposed NORSHUKON link will provide increased opportunities for freight, passengers and vehicles moving within and around the North Sea periphery, and between the markets and the European Continent. The link would also help to significantly reduce the amount of freight moving by road between Norway and the Continent/UK, as well as increasing tourism potential in the areas served.

The next stages towards selecting a preferred operator are as follows:

• Submission of Pre Qualification Questionnaires 17 August 2007;
• Issue of Tender Documents to Pre-qualified bidders 24 August 2007;
• Submission of Proposals by Tenderers 21 September 2007;
• Selection of Preferred Operator October 2007.