Yell Sound service down to single vessel

THE YELL Sound ferry service is again down to a single vessel operation today (Thursday) due to crew sickness.

Bookings are suspended and the remaining ferry will run a shuttle service until at least 5pm.

Shetland Islands Council has apologised for any inconvenience.

It is the latest in a series of disruption to an essential service that has left islanders deeply frustrated while ferry managers struggle to fill vacancies and deal with absence through sickness.

A former Yell Sound skipper and a tour operator both spoke out about issues with the North Isles service earlier this month.

Shetland Islands Council chief executive Maggie Sandison recently said there is expected to be a number of proposals put to the local authority’s environment and transport committee in September which includes changes to the terms of conditions of employment as well as increasing the pool staff who could move across various services.

Meanwhile, the council has given early notice of disruption to the Bressay ferry service due of planned essential maintenance work to the Lerwick linkspan.

Due to major structural works there will be an alternative timetable for a foot passenger service only between 7pm on Friday 11 October and 6am on Monday 14 October.

The 6.45pm ferry on 11 October will be the last service to take vehicles from the Maryfield terminal at Bressay to Lerwick. The 7pm will be the last service to take vehicles from the Lerwick site to Bressay.

The regular roro service will resume to the normal timetable from Bressay at 7am on Monday 14 October.

The council said that the scheduled works were part of a linkspan maintenance programme with work already completed at Skerries, Vidlin, Laxo, Symbister, Gutcher, Belmont and Bressay.

A spokesperson added: “On behalf of Shetland Islands Council’s ferry services we apologise for any inconvenience that these essential works may cause.”