THREE vessels used for ferry services to Orkney and Shetland will be brought into public ownership – but transport union RMT wants the whole operation to be state-run.

SNP transport minister Humza Yousaf granted outsourcing giant Serco an 18-month extension on its contract to run Northlink Ferries.

He said this would "allow further progress to be made with the ongoing review of procurement policy for future ferry operating contracts."