Transport / Delivery of new relief ferry now expected in 2028 or 2029
An option to procure up to two further vessels reflects the ‘need to update the fleet’ regardless of tunnel aspirations, councillor says
TIMESCALES for a new relief inter-island ferry in Shetland look set to be pushed back after a procurement notice suggested a delivery date of 2028 or 2029.
It comes after Shetland Islands Council (SIC) said in September last year that it was hoped that the ferry could be in service in 2027.
Last year councillors approved an outline business case for a new £11.76 million ferry which would provide extra resilience in the ferry fleet, such as when other vessels are out of service.
It is proposed that a £10 million capital grant given to the SIC by the Scottish Government for inter-island connectivity would be used towards the cost, with the rest met by borrowing.
The issue of resilience was brought back into question recently after issues relating to dry dock is set to temporarily affect ferry services for Unst, Fetlar and Whalsay.
On Thursday the SIC invited expressions of interest from companies to design and build the new relief vessel for its fleet.
However a procurement notice said the vessel must be delivered to the council by 31 March 2029, although the council has a “strong preference” for an earlier handover of 31 October 2028.
It also came as something of a surprise that the notice said there is also an option to procure up to two similar vessels in addition, which would come at a total cost of more than £35 million excluding VAT.
It is that thought these potential extra ferries could eventually be used on routes in the future which are not mooted for tunnels, such as Fetlar, Skerries and Papa Stour.
However, the notice confirms that the SIC only intends to procure one vessel at this time.
Chair of the SIC’s environment and transport committee Moraig Lyall said: “At the minute we are procuring one vessel but, given that procurement takes considerable time and resource, keeping open the possibility of acquiring another similar vessel, should the first prove to be successful, aims to make that a more efficient process when finance becomes available.”
With some on social media questioning why there could eventually be three vessels procured when tunnels are being considered for some routes, Lyall said ferries are ageing and tunnels would take time.
“We are working as hard as we can on the work towards tunnels for some of our routes including building the business case and political engagement around the financing of this,” she said.
“However, the ferries we are operating now are aging, with even the newest around 20 years old, and there remains a need to update the fleet to cover the period until fixed links are constructed and for those islands that will continue to rely on a ferry beyond that.
“If we are to avoid increasing breakdowns and longer periods spent in drydock it is vital that we press ahead with augmenting our existing fleet to ensure that the islands have a reliable service which will sustain their communities as long as they continue to rely on a ferry for their connectivity.”
Shetland News recently reported how the SIC has received indications from the Scottish Government that a total of £26 million in capital funding is destined to come the council’s way for inter-island connectivity over the next four years.
Meanwhile the procumbent notice for the relief ferry said the new 33-metre Class B ro-ro passenger vessel will be a maximum of 500 gross tonnes and built to meet Maritime and Coastguard Agency standards.
It will be capable of operating on any of the current inter-island ferry routes, except Foula, using existing terminals, and be operated by current crews without the need for additional certification.
Companies with an interest in building the vessel are invited to submit necessary documents for the first stage of the tender process by 2 March.
A full business case for the project is set to go in front of councillors later this year. Initial concept designs were released to the public last year.
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