Polar Star - March - May 2024
Tuesday 19 March 2024
 7.2°C   SSE Strong Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / NorthLink terminal passenger walkway out of action

The passenger walkway to access NorthLink ferries docked in Lerwick has been out of action in recent days.

LERWICK Port Authority says it hopes to have the passenger walkway for boarding vessels at NorthLink Ferry Terminal back up and running by the end of this week.

The walkway has been out of action for between four and five weeks – coinciding with the busy October school holiday period – after the failure of a part.  

It has meant travellers having to embark and disembark NorthLink’s two passenger ferries via the car deck, and the LPA said it was “very disappointed” by the situation.

In a statement the harbour authority said: “We sincerely apologise to NorthLink Ferries and their passengers for the inconvenience of having to use the alternative linkspan ramp.”

A replacement part was immediately ordered and has now been fitted, with a specialist engineer due in Shetland on Wednesday to calibrate the part and LPA deputy chief executive Calum Grains said the plan was for the walkway to be back in use “before the end of the week”.

The LPA said safety was of “paramount importance” and, while the organisation has a maintenance agreement with its equipment supplier, “unfortunately the part required on this occasion was not stocked in the UK”.

The port authority spokesman added: “Discussions have started to identify essential spare parts that we may need to hold in stock in Lerwick to minimise any such disruption in future.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.