The cost of providing harbour facilities at Hatston and Stromness for the new NorthLink ferries has risen by over £4 million, Orkney Islands councillors heard on Monday.

In 2001 the projected estimate of costs for the works was £17 million – £13.9 million for Hatston and £2.5 million for Stromness, with professional fees estimated at £0.6 million.

However new costings of £16.96 million for Hatston and £3.45 million for Stromness, with professional fees of £0.64 million, put the figure up to £21.05 million.

Councillors learned at Monday’s meeting of the OIC transportation committee that the council’s contribution to the harbours costs will increase by £1.13 million from £2.7 million to £3.83 million.

They also heard that work at Hatston is five weeks behind schedule due to delays on piling works caused by heavy rain stopping welding work, and plant breakdowns. The contractor had been given a new timetable to get work back on target, including working double shifts and working over the Easter break.