Transport / Council exploring building two new ferries with £10m government grant
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) is considering constructing two new ferries, similar in size to the Fivla and Linga.
MacDuff Naval Architects has been commissioned by the council to examine how a Fivla-size vessel could be built, and whether any “compromises” can be made without losing passenger or vehicle space.
If plans are continued to build a new vessel akin to the Fivla, the council has said that the building of a “Linga-class vessel should be progressed in parallel”.
And a £10m Scottish Government grant to improve inter-island connectivity could be used to fund the purchases.
It comes as continued and increasing demand for the inter-island ferry service, and issues with the aging ferry network, has combined to cause continual disruption to commuters.
There are also likely to be fewer sailings to and from Unst due to the requirement for all large vehicles to be lashed down on sailings.
The SIC has been conducting a ferries resilience review as a result of the ongoing disruption, and said it had become “increasingly apparent” during this that more needed to be done.
“Seeking to maintain, never mind improve, the very high performance levels the ferry service delivers is likely to place unsustainable demands on existing staff and vessels,” the council said, in a report set to go before the environment and transport committee next week.
“Actions to ensure those demands are effectively managed are essential.”
The council said two main options had emerged, which were to buy a new vessel similar in size to the spare vessel Fivla – or to buy a larger vessel, similar in size to the Whalsay ferry Linga, and allow the Hendra to become a spare on the network.
“A new vessel similar in size to MV Fivla would offer maximum opportunity for use across the service, utilising existing shore infrastructure,” the council said.
However, councillors will hear next week that building a Fivla-sized vessel “may present challenges due to modern construction standards”.
MacDuff Naval Architects were due to deliver a report to the SIC at the end of February detailing how this could be done.
“Should the results of this study indicate that any compromises can be accepted, without significant reductions in passenger and vehicle carry capability, it is recommended that works should continue to the detailed design of such a vessel,” the council said.
“It is also recommended that further investigation, including detailed design, of a ‘Linga‘ class vessel should be progressed in parallel.”
Revenue funding of £500,000 was needed to progress the design works for the two ferries, the report said, which would be taken from ring-fenced external funding.
The £10m Scottish Government inter-island connectivity grant “would align with any potential vessel purchase opportunities”, the council said.
It added that any new vessel would “utilise green energy technology as far as possible, being mindful of existing shore based services on the islands being served.”
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