Transport / Ferry frustrations continue as Unst briefly cut off on Thursday morning
THE BLUEMULL Sound ferry service was briefly suspended this morning (Thursday) – adding to ferry frustrations in the North Isles.
In a short message at 7.30am, the ferry voicebank said that the service had been suspended due to a technical issue on the Bigga ferry.
It left Unst cut off, with folk unable to leave the isle and no-one able to get in, because Bluemull Sound had been operating to a single vessel timetable.
However at 8.25am the Bluemull voicebank was updated to say that the Bigga issue had been resolved and that the service would resume at 8.40am.
The Yell Sound route is also down to a single vessel timetable, which has led to some drivers having to wait hours to get onto the ferry.
It comes a day after Shetland News reported that people travelling to Shetland’s North Isles were being hit by an “incredibly disruptive” lack of ferries serving the two routes.
‘Incredibly disruptive’: Frustration in North Isles about ferries and roadworks
Adding to the frustration in the North Isles, ongoing roadworks in the North Mainland are meaning drivers are having to set off even earlier for a ferry they might not even get on.
Yell Community Council chairwoman Annette Jamieson said it was an exasperating situation for all involved – and strengthened calls for fixed links to Yell and Unst.
It comes amid more calls for Shetland Islands Council to deliver a new ferry, with the possibility of a relief vessel being delivered in the coming years.
North Isles councillor Ryan Thomson said last month that the disruption to ferries only serves to reinforce the need for an extra vessel in the council’s fleet.
A new ferry has been ordered by the SIC, but is only expected to be delivered in 2028 or 2029.
The Yell Sound service has been down to a single vessel after a fault was discovered on one of the Daggri’s control modules last week.
The Bluemull Sound route is due to run to a single vessel service from yesterday (Wednesday) until Saturday 21 February, two days longer than expected, due to dry dock issues.
Shetland Islands Council has previously apologised for any inconvenience caused.
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