Filla returns to service to ease ferry pressure
AFTER more than two months the Skerries ferry Filla is back in action after having rope wound in her propellor.
The knock-on effect from this means that the Fivla is set to be deployed on Bluemull Sound in the coming days to bring the service up to two vessels again.
The usual Bluemull ferry Geira, which has been out of action for months due to delays in her return from dry dock, remains out of service.
The Fivla, which is the SIC’s relief ferry, is expected to head to Bluemull Sound on Wednesday after a couple of days of essential maintenance.
From Wednesday the normal two-vessel service on Bluemull Sound will resume with bookings available.
The Filla had been in Fraserburgh for maintenance following the incident with the propellor in March.
Shetland Islands Council (SIC) has gone out to procurement on a new relief ferry, with a £10 million Scottish Government grant set to be used towards its purchase.
The aim of the new vessel is to add extra relief capacity to the ferry network.
The view from councillors is that disruption from dry-docking and delays highlights the need for an extra ferry in the fleet.
Regarding the situation with the Geira, Unst Community Council took to Facebook at the weekend to encourage people to formally complain to the SIC.
It added that the situation with the ferry service was an “ongoing disaster”, adding that the community council will be seeking a meeting with SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison.
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