Transport / First business case due soon on possible new SIC ferry
A CONTRACT could be awarded next year for the build of a new vessel for Shetland Islands Council’s ferry fleet.
An update given to members of the SIC’s environment and transport committee on Monday said initial designs are for a boat 33 metres long which would have a capacity of 15 cars.
The hope is that an extra vessel on the council’s fleet would add resilience to the inter-island network, including times when other boats are out of service.
A report to councillors said the current thinking is that a new boat would be under “qualification thresholds” – meaning that crew from all ferry services would be able to work on it.
It comes after the Scottish Government pledged an extra £10 million in capital funding to the SIC for inter-island connectivity, as well as the Orkney council.
An outline business case for the project is set to go in front of the SIC’s policy and resources committee next week.
This will seek authority to progress detailed design work and procurement of the vessel.
A full business case would be brought back confirming costs and programme, seeking approval to award the contract.
The report to councillors said at this stage a two-year delivery period is expected.
It has been more than 20 years since a new SIC ferry was launched – the Yell ferry Dagalien, which was introduced in 2004.
However a new Fair Isle ferry is expected to be delivered in 2026.
Meanwhile the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) agency staff working on the SIC’s ferries is reducing.
Figures showed that in April there were 18.6 FTE agency staff working on sea-based ferry services, but in June that was 8.9 FTE.
Infrastructure director John Smith said work the SIC has undertaken with crews on working arrangements has been “positive”.
But he said there is a “fundamental problem” for some services as there is a dependence on people working on remote islands, where there can be a limited pool of available staff.
A shift system has also been introduced, which has enabled some extra runs to be added to the Bressay and Bluemull services.
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