High winds disrupt ferries

PERSISTANT south easterly gales and high seas are currently disrupting internal and external ferry links in Shetland

Services from and to Whalsay have just been suspended for the time being, while the service between Skerries and the Shetland mainland has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, Shetland Islands Council said it was able to operate a one vessel service only on Yell Sound because the second ferry could not safely leave her berth at Ulsta, in Yell, due to the south easterly winds.

A spokesman for ferries said it was likely that services to Whalsay would be disrupted for most of the day as the gales didn’t show any sign of abating

He added that the crew of the second ferry was hoping for a lull in the winds so that she could leave her berth to take up the service.

Meanwhile, ferry operator NorthLink has cancelled Monday night’s sailing to Aberdeen after the Hrossey’s trip north on Sunday had been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions. The second vessel Hjaltland is currently out of service.

NorthLink has now also cancelled Monday night’s scheduled sailing of its freighter Hildasay.