Bookings reminder made as council looks to stop empty ferry sailings

SHETLAND’s inter-island ferries will no longer travel if no passenger or vehicle bookings have been made before the cut-off time of 30 minutes before departure.

It is hoped that this will reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while giving crews more time to carry out duties onboard the vessels.

Shetland Islands Council is reminding people to book before they travel.

The inter-island ferries are currently running to a reduced timetable in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with bookings required on all sailings.

There was something of a grace period regarding mandatory bookings after the new timetables were brought in for those who tended not to book.

Monitoring of ferry usage since the timetables were introduced in early April shows that there were times, however, where sailings carried no passengers or vehicles. This was particularly evident at weekends.

The council said this suggests the ‘stay at home’ public health message is being adhered to.