Marine / Plans for ‘pie in the sky’ electric boat trial shelved
PLANS for a trial featuring an electric boat on the Papa Stour ferry route has hit choppy waters – with the project no longer set to take place in Shetland.
The company behind the plans, Coastal Workboats, confirmed to Shetland News the project is instead now focusing on two different locations elsewhere in the UK.
Local Papa Stour representative Jane Puckey said there had been little support in the community for what she called a “pie in the sky” idea.
Plans for the four-week trial emerged in 2023 when the UK Government pledged more than £6 million to the project.
It was due to see the UK’s first all-electric vehicle and passenger ferry trialled between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour.
With Coastal Workboats saying that the electric boat would effectively replace the existing Papa Stour ferry Snolda during the trial, it was not long before members of the community expressed concern and spoke of a lack of consultation.
Coastal Workboats then announced in late 2023 that it would be building the E-LUV boat in Stornoway, with the hope of trialling it off Shetland’s westside in March 2025.
Shetland News has sought updates on the project from Coastal Workboats over the last month, but only received a response last week.
A spokesperson has now confirmed that the trial is no longer taking place on the West Burrafirth-Papa Stour route.
They said the project had been impacted by “changing circumstances”.
The spokesperson added: “We understand that it is disappointing for Shetland to miss out on the opportunity to be part of such a pivotal and pioneering moment in marine development.
“However, we must now concentrate the project’s focus on areas and methods that will ensure its success and widest possible learning.
“This means that the trial will now take place in two separate locations to address two separate marine markets so as to maximise the learning our industry as a whole can glean from this changemaker vessel.”
The spokesperson also said the company still believes the E-LUV vessel “remains an ideal solution to some of Shetland’s ferry needs”.
Local company BK Marine, which operates the ferry to Foula, was originally involved in the project but it is understood it had withdrawn its involvement.
Puckey, who represents Papa Stour on the Sandness and Walls Community Council, said locals on the island are “not shedding any tears” over the news.
“There was little, if any, support for the trial in the community,” she said.
“It was an unrealistic, impractical, pie in the sky idea.
“The design of the boat would not have coped with the frequent very rough sea conditions between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour which in turn would have caused great inconvenience for the islanders.”
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