News / More ferry disruption
FERRY operators NorthLink have warned of disruption and delays on the north and southbound routes due to strong easterly and south easterly winds affecting Aberdeen harbour again.
Hjaltland is now expected to depart from Lerwick at 1am on Saturday morning and not arrive in Aberdeen until 6pm and 7pm on Saturday evening, having stopped at Kirkwall between 9am and 10am.
As a consequence of the delay, Hjaltland is not expected to depart from Aberdeen the following night until 1am on Sunday morning, stopping at Kirkwall for an hour from 7.30am and reaching Lerwick at 2.30pm.
The Hrossey is due to leave Aberdeen on Friday night as scheduled at 7pm, however NorthLink have warned that due to the swell the harbour could be closed at short notice.
An Aberdeen harbour spokesman said on Friday evening there were no plans to close the port to all shipping, but strong winds were forecast to continue all weekend.
Meanwhile both NorthLink cargo boats Hildasay and Helliar are stuck in Lerwick, their Friday night sailings having been cancelled.
Last week Shetland Islands Council’s transport chairman Allan Wishart criticised the continual disruption caused by easterly winds restricting access to Aberdeen harbour, saying it was bad for Shetland business.
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