SIC cancels tender exercise for new relief ferry
Project had previously been described has ‘one of the greatest priorities’ for council
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) has cancelled a tender exercise for a new relief inter-island ferry, which is likely to delay the project.
The council had opened procurement on a new ferry earlier this year, with a suggested delivery date of 2028 or 2029.
Councillors approved an outline business case for a new £11.76 million ferry last year to provide extra resilience in the fleet.
A £10 million capital grant given to the SIC by the Scottish Government for inter-island connectivity is set to be used towards the cost.
Shetland Islands Council told Shetland News that the original intention had been to develop the design for a replacement ferry with a concept based on current small vessel designs.
However, it said it had become apparent that a “number of significant issues require clarification before we move to detailed design at contract award”.
“We have therefore decided to cancel this tendering exercise,” a spokesperson confirmed.
“This will give us an opportunity to clarify all outstanding issues.
“When that work has been completed, a report will go to elected members regarding next steps.”
The SIC added that this decision would not affect the work of the inter-island connectivity programme.
Councillors said in March of this year that there was a “real need” to have a new relief vessel delivered as soon as possible after a number of issues on the inter-island ferry services.
Environment and transport committee chair Moraig Lyall said that a relief ferry was “potentially one of the greatest priorities for us at the moment” due to the fragility in the fleet.
Lyall received assurance from assets, commissioning and procurement manager Robert Sinclair in March that there would be no hold-ups with the procurement process.
The council already has the relief vessel Fivla, but she is regularly called into action to cover for other ferries if they are out of action for maintenance.
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The aim of a new relief vessel would be to provide extra resilience during periods of disruption.
SIC leader Emma Macdonald previously said that “we are all really aware” that the ferry needs to be a priority, while depute leader Gary Robinson said there was a real need to have the new vessel “like yesterday” given the fragility of the service.
The SIC this week approved the implementation route map for inter-island connectivity, which included a number of ferry replacements across the network as well as tunnels.
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