GR Direct - Sony - Save up to £500
Friday 25 July 2025
 13.3°C   SSW Light Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Council / Linkspan replacement scheme affected by rise in cost of steel

One of the new deck panels being lowered onto the frame of the Vidlin linkspan in April this year. Photo: SIC

THE COUNCIL programme to replace linkspans at inter-island ferry terminals will cost £120,000 more than previously expected due to increases in the price of steel.

It comes after the planned linkspan replacement at Symbister in Whalsay was postponed to 2022 due to delays in the supply of materials, while there was also a winter weather risk.

Shetland Islands Council port infrastructure manager Andrew Inkster told a meeting of the harbour board on Wednesday that the local authority’s budget has been reprofiled as a result.

But he said there was no extra cost in terms of the contractor Malakoff.

The £3.75 million programme has already seen linkspans replaced in Skerries and Vidlin.

Lerwick councillor Amanda Hawick expressed concern at rising costs of material – with reports of the price of building a house up threefold.

The life extension project for the council’s 13 terminal linkspans – the pieces of machinery which act as a drawbridge to allow vehicles on and off ferries – was approved back in 2017.

Meanwhile Inkster confirmed that a portacabin facility will be brought to the Whalsay ferry terminal following concerns of the lack of accessible toilets there.

A similar solution could be used for the Grutness ferry terminal in the south mainland.

South mainland member Allison Duncan encouraged officers to do things “as quickly as possible” as more people are using the facilities at Grutness after public toilets near the Sumburgh Hotel were closed.

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

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

 

Sign up
for our Newsletters

Stay in the loop with newsletters tailored to your interests. Whether you're looking for daily updates, weekly highlights, or updates on jobs or property, you can choose exactly what you want to receive.

Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 

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.

Interested in Notifications?

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

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.