Transport / More ferry frustrations over drydocking disruption
The SIC says the Bluemull Sound ferry Geira might only return from drydock on 20 April
FRUSTRATIONS have been voiced after it was announced that Whalsay will remain operating with a single vessel for longer than expected due to dry docking delays.
The Whalsay service is already running with a single vessel after the Hendra left for scheduled drydock on Monday.
But the SIC said today (Wednesday) the service will operate with single vessel for longer than first anticipated, through to Tuesday 31 March. There will be additional runs on Mondays and Wednesdays.
It comes at the same time that the Yell Sound route will be down to a single vessel service too, which started on Monday and runs until Friday 27 March.
And the Bluemull Sound route is also set to drop to a single vessel service again between Saturday 4 and Sunday 19 April.
Shetland Islands Council (SIC) ferries Daggri, Filla and Hendra are set to go into dry docking during this time.
At the moment the Daggri and Hendra are currently out of action, as is the Geira.
The latest disruption involves the late return of the Bluemull Sound vessel Geira from drydock.
Already delayed in returning to service, the vessel is now only estimated to bae back in action on 20 April.
North Isles councillor Duncan Anderson said the SIC “understands the impact this has on peoples lives and can only apologise, while trying to get the service back to normal as quickly as possible”.
“Situations like this are the reason for the procurement of the new ‘spare’ vessel, which will hopefully be in service in 2027/28,” Anderson said.
The SIC’s ferry department announced the Bluemull and Whalsay disruption this morning (Wednesday), with social media comments criticising the Whalsay decision in particular.
The council said that previous bookings between the 13 and 31 March were now no longer valid, and would need to be rebooked either online or by contacting the booking office.
It said the booking system was being updated and that bookings were expected to be available from Friday.
Likewise bookings have also been cancelled on the Bluemull Sound route from 4 to 19 April while the Filla goes into dry dock, with bookings likely to be available again from Monday.
The council’s docking schedule can be found here.
The latest news comes less than a month after Shetland News reported about frustrations in the North Isles about an “incredibly disruptive” lack of ferries to service the routes.
Yell Community Council chairwoman Annette Jamieson said it was an exasperating situation for all involved, and that people’s plans were being disrupted daily.
Early morning and teatime crossings were particularly “problematic” due to the increased demand, she said.
Shetland Islands Council is currently procuring a new relief ferry, with a £10 million grant from the Scottish Government set to go towards its cost.
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