Repairs to both Bluemull Sound ferries expected to be completed soon
SHETLAND Islands Council is hoping that repair work on the Bluemull Sound ferry Geira could be completed by this evening (Thursday).
It comes as the service runs with a single vessel for a fourth day in a row.
The mechanical problem with the Geira, which emerged last week, came at a time when the other Bluemull vessel Bigga was out of service in dry dock.
The Bigga’s return to service has been delayed due to ongoing gearbox repairs, meaning that while the Geira is out of action the council’s “spare” vessel Fivla has been covering Bluemull Sound on its own.
A spokesperson for Shetland Islands Council confirmed that the hope is for the Bigga – currently in Lerwick – to return to service on Tuesday (1 October).
But the Fivla is due for its own spell in dry dock, which is already behind schedule.
The council’s dry docking schedule shows how the Fivla was due to be taken out of service for two months on 16 September.
The council spokesperson also said the repairs to the Geira turned out to be “more extensive than initially anticipated”.
This comes on top of some other crew-related disruption to the Yell Sound service in the last two weeks.
Bookings are not available on the Bluemull Sound service while it is single vessel, because a “full timetable change” has been required and the systems currently do not have the facility to re-implement bookings on these sailings.
Meanwhile on Wednesday councillors gave their final approval to a number of staffing actions designed to improve resilience on the ferry service.
They also delegated authority to SIC officials to further explore opportunities for suitable second-hand and new vessel acquisition.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, North Isles member Robert Thomson highlighted the fragility of the ferry service if another vessel breaks down when the Fivla eventually does go away to dry dock.
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He added that the issues with the ferry service have been particularly difficult for his ward.
“I was only accosted by a member of the management team for SaxaVord this morning about the strain it was putting on them, and the whole island,” Thomson added.
“It’s a really critical thing to get sorted out.”
Infrastructure director John Smith said he was in Sella Ness with ferries management on Wednesday to work on an action plan.
He also gave a “full commitment” to keeping councillors and users of the ferries informed on “what is being done, and what will be done”.
Meanwhile work continues on an inter-island transport programme which will consider tunnels as possible ferry replacements.
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