![Shetland officials have already begun talks with government ahead of tendering for the next north boats contract in 2018.](https://mirror1.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hrossey-240x140.jpg)
Race to bottom on ferries would be disastrous
![Shetland officials have already begun talks with government ahead of tendering for the next north boats contract in 2018.](https://mirror1.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hrossey-240x140.jpg)
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![Lobster creel and mackerel in yellow fish box. Lobster Creel and Fish Box. Pen and ink with watercolour.](https://mirror2.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lobster_creel_and_mackerel_in_yellow_fish_box_RonSandford-240x140.jpg)
![BBC Radio 4 mainstay Jeremy Hardy enthralled the Lerwick audience on Tuesday night. Photo: Shetnews](https://mirror1.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Jeremy_Hardy_2-240x140.jpg)
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![Scottish folk trio Lau demonstrating prodigious musicianship - from left: Martin Green, Kris Drever and Aidan O’Rourke - Photo: Davie Gardner](https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150626_Lau_-_Davie_gardner-240x140.jpg)
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![Eddi Reader showcased a host of traditional Scots songs over two nights at Mareel this weekend. Photo: Chris Brown](https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/O6128963_15-06-12-240x140.jpg)
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![The 'wonderful' Christine Tobin at Lerwick Town Hall on Wednesday night - Photo: Chris Brown](https://mirror1.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150610_Christine_Tobin-240x140.jpg)
![150610 Shetland geology](https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150610_Shetland_geology-240x140.jpg)
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![The New Rope String Band's Mareel show, following dates in Ollaberry and Walls, was their farewell to the islands. Photo: Chris Brown](https://mirror1.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150607_New_Rope_String_Band-240x140.jpg)
![Fab Four tribute act Them Beatles at Mareel on Friday night. Photo: Chris Brown](https://mirror2.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150605_them_beatles_at_mareel-240x140.jpg)
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![The wine glasses were shuddering - Admiral Fallow at Mareel on Saturday night - Photos: Chris Brown](https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/150530_Admiral_Fallow-240x140.jpg)
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