News / Wind disrupts Yell ferry
POWERFUL gusts of more than 50 knots have disrupted commuters travelling on the Yell ferry on Monday morning.
The day ferry Daggri was unable to meet her 7.45am scheduled start at the Ulsta terminal due to the Force 11 gusts and high swell making it unsafe to leave her night time berth.
Shetland Islands Council ferries manager Colin Manson explained the day ferry ties up behind the shift ferry at night and comes around to the linkspan in the morning to start her 12 hour shift.
“When it’s a strong wind from west of south west, as soon as they drop their ropes the wind blows them towards land and the engines are not powerful enough to protect them,” he said.
Further disruption was caused when the service was held up for an hour for the one working ferry, Dagalien, to meet the ambulance at Toft at the request of Shetland coastguard. The service was back to normal by noon.
Meanwhile the strong winds and high seas have forced the Whalsay ferry to use the Vidlin terminal, while the Skerries ferry was held up until mid morning before sailing from Symbister.
The forecast is for more gales gusting up to Force 10 on Tuesday afternoon, with the potential for further ferry disruption.
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