Replacement freight boats still planned amid government budget cuts
The NorthLink ferry service is also set to experience delays
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
Green councillor Alex Armitage believes chargers on the overnight sailing would be a good move – but there are concerns it would be counter-intuitive
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
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’
North Isles councillor Ryan Thomson, from Unst, said it was a “dark day” for the area
Staff vacancies and absences have particularly affected services to Yell, Unst and Fetlar, with disruption continuing this week
The SIC’s Michael Craigie says the route is a ‘current priority’ for the council
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