News / Ferry disruption
FERRY passengers have been warned that the inter island service could be facing disruption over the weekend with strong winds forecast for the next few days.
Meanwhile the Friday southbound sailing of the NorthLink ferry Hjaltland from Lerwick is being delayed until 3am due to the heavy swell in the Fair Isle gap, with arrival in Aberdeen not expected until 5pm on Saturday.
All the ferry operator’s sailings across the Pentland Firth were cancelled on Friday as winds gusted up to hurricane force 12.
Both of NorthLink’s freight vessels Helliar and Hildasay cancelled their Friday sailings, with Saturday’s journeys under review.
Shetland Islands Council ferries manager Colin Manson said there had been fears that the Yell and Whalsay services would have to be suspended on Friday with south westerly winds gusting at more than 70mph.
However by evening only the Skerries service had suffered, losing one of its two round trips.
Meanwhile Manson warned that winds forecast from Force 7 to 10 over the weekend could cause further disruption to the island services.
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