The NorthLink ferry service is also set to experience delays
Windy weather prompts suspension of inter-island ferry services
Stuart Black also said the development agency will explore possible ‘funding mechanisms’ for fixed links
Shetland Islands Council has requested around £23m from the Scottish Government for operating ferries next year – an increase of more than £5.5m
There is also criticism over freight capacity during livestock season – with claims the opportunity to charter a vessel was turned down
Meanwhile Alistair Carmichael is due to meet the UK Government’s Levelling Up secretary today – with fixed links on the agenda
Green councillor Alex Armitage believes chargers on the overnight sailing would be a good move – but there are concerns it would be counter-intuitive
HIAL has meanwhile apologised to Mr Skinner
•News
SIC leader Emma Macdonald said the local authority had a ‘constructive meeting’ with the transport minister
From Monday the evening flight from Aberdeen will be ‘de-linked’ from Manchester services – a repeated source of delays
The council’s transport chair says the SIC does ‘not have any available staff who are appropriately qualified to stand in for sick colleagues’ at the moment
But NorthLink declined to respond to Stewart Hay’s comments
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Traffic volumes at the junction have risen on average two percent every year
Transport partnership ZetTrans said any fare increases resulting from the transition would ‘exacerbate already existing inequalities’
Updated
‘Utterly unacceptable’: ‘Grim’ scenes on busy ferry as passengers ‘compete for floor space’ to sleep
Transport Scotland said the boat was busier than usual due to flight cancellations – and ‘seats were available for each of the 585 passengers on board the vessel’
