Kirkwall is the principal cruise gateway to Orkney and one of Britain's most important cruise ports of call. Cruise traffic is handled through a flexible combination of Hatston Pier, Kirkwall North Pier and Kirkwall Bay Anchorage.
Hatston Pier
Hatston is Orkney's primary berth for large cruise ships. The Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority Port Handbook publishes a 385m maximum available berth length, formed principally by Berth 1A at 225m and Berth 1B at 160m. Current cruise schedules routinely describe the combined allocation as Hatston 1A/B.
The Harbour Authority publishes water depth at Hatston of 5-10.5m below chart datum and no beam restraint. Cruise Britain's technical listing gives 10.5m depth on berth, 10.5m vessel draught and unrestricted air draught.
345m operational cruise limit versus 385m berth
Kirkwall provides another excellent example of why Deck7 separates physical berth length from vessel limits. Orkney's approved cruise booking policy uses 345m as the standard maximum vessel length at Hatston, despite the combined physical berth being 385m. The Harbour Authority handbook says larger vessels may be accepted case by case, while Cruise Britain states that ships over 385m require risk assessment.
Deck7 therefore records 345m as the standard cruise maximum and 385m as physical quay availability rather than treating the two figures as interchangeable.
Kirkwall North Pier
Smaller cruise ships can berth at Kirkwall North Pier, immediately beside the town. The cruise booking policy publishes a 124m maximum vessel length, while the Port Handbook gives 119m maximum available length and depths ranging from 1m to 5.5m. The difference is retained in Deck7's technical notes rather than silently choosing one figure.
Kirkwall Bay Anchorage
Large ships that are not allocated Hatston can use Kirkwall Bay Anchorage, with passengers tendering into Kirkwall Basin. Both inner and outer anchorage positions are used, and tender operations remain dependent on weather, sea state and vessel procedures.
Marine services
Pilotage is compulsory for applicable passenger vessels; Cruise Britain states that this applies to passenger ships over 65m. Tugs are available, including three ASD tugs with approximately 55-tonne bollard pull subject to pre-booking. Fresh water can be supplied and waste reception and MGO bunkering are available.
Cruise Europe currently records LNG bunkering for cruise vessels by vessel/barge, so Deck7 records LNG bunkering as available at port level while avoiding unsupported berth-specific claims.
Shore power
No authoritative current confirmation of routine high-voltage cruise cold ironing at Hatston was identified in the sources reviewed. A published low-amperage shoreside electrical supply is not equivalent to cruise OPS, so Deck7 leaves cruise shore-power status as unknown.
Getting into Kirkwall
Hatston lies approximately 2 miles from central Kirkwall and a free cruise shuttle normally operates into town. Kirkwall North Pier is directly beside the centre. Major shore excursions include Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe and sites associated with Scapa Flow.