More than £33,000 of food has been donated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to charity while its four ships are laid up in Scotland.
The equivalent of 30 pallets-worth of provisions, included cereals, biscuits, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, jams and sauces, chocolates, cured meats, baking ingredients and rice, come from the line’s vessels, Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch.
The items were collected from Rosyth, where the four ships are located, by food distribution charity FareShare, which works to support those in difficult circumstances, including isolation, poverty or homelessness.
Hotel operations director Thomas Rennesland said: “We are used to feeding in excess of 4,000 guests and crew across our fleet every day, and while we have not taken on any additional fresh produce since we paused our operations in March – other than that required to feed our crew – our stores and freezers were fully stocked and ready for cruising as normal.
“As our ships have been in the Rosyth area since March it seemed only fitting to donate these additional food items to those who need it most in Scotland.
“The crew on board have worked extremely hard, in addition to their usual duties, to prepare all of the food items so that they are ready for collection by FareShare and I would like to thank all involved for their efforts for this very worthy cause.”
FareShare regional food officer Teresa McGoldrick added: “The support from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is the equivalent of 30,000 meals to the most vulnerable people. That is the amazing difference this donation and others like it make to the lives of people in our communities.”