MV Geira

MV Geira approaching Gutcher, Yell from Fetlar.
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Geira (II)
Owner	Shetland Islands Council
Operator	SIC Ferries
Port of registry	Lerwick
Route	Yell Sound (1988 - 2002) Whalsay (2002 - 2005) Bluemull Sound (2005 - )
Builder	Richard_Dunston, Hessle, Yorkshire
Completed	1988
In service	2 July 1988
Refit	Once a year
Identification	IMO number:  8712489 MMSI number: 232003604 Callsign: MJPA7
Status	Dry dock for re-engining
General characteristics
Type	Ro-Ro Vehicle & Passenger Ferry
Tonnage	Gross Tonnage: 226 Net Tonnage: 69 Deadweight Tonnage: 103.7
Displacement	335.7
Length	30 m (98.4 ft)
Beam	9.0 m (29.5 ft)
Draught	2.612 m (8.6 ft)
Depth	3.85 m (12.6 ft)
Decks	4 (2 Passenger)
Ramps	Bow and Stern ramps and a Bow Visor
Installed power	2 x Kelvin TASC8 @ 470kW each (until 2025) 2 x Volvo D13 (from 2026)
Propulsion	Twin screw 1x Bow Thruster
Speed	10 knots
Capacity	96 passengers 11 cars 1 Artic
Crew	4

MV Geira is a ro-ro passenger and car ferry that operates on the Bluemull sound service, ^[1] operated by SIC Ferries. She is based in Hamars Ness, on Fetlar. ^[2]

History

She is the second MV Geira built for SIC Ferries, the first being built in 1973 as a part of the first batch of inter-island ferries for the council. Out of the four vessels built around the same time, at different yards and to slightly different specification, MV Geira is closest in design to MV Fivla (II) .

Layout

MV Geira has 2 lanes on her car deck. Like most SIC Ferries her size she has a passenger lounge located beneath the car deck. ^[3]

Service

MV Geira berthed at Fetlar.

Between 1988 and 2002, MV Geira operated on the Yell Sound route. She operated alongside MV Thora, and the then new MV Bigga .

From 2002, MV Geira operated on the Whalsay route alongside MV Linga . Where they had replaced MV Hendra, which replaced her again in 2005, and MV Thora on the route.

In 2005, when replaced by MV Hendra, she was transferred to the Bluemull Sound route, operating as the day vessel based out of Fetlar. Geira operates 6 days a week, however there was no second vessel on Bluemull on Saturdays until 2006 and from 2014 until 2025, when it was reintroduced.

Due to an issue with the Toft linkspan, she operated a special service between Vidlin and Ulsta, Yell from 29 April to 4 May 2010. ^[4]

Due to getting her engines changed Geira is currently out of service from 18 October 2025 until at least 12 March 2026, this is being done on the Malakoff slip in Lerwick. Her shafts, propellers, gearboxes and generators are also being refurbished. Due to the extended length of the docking, Whalsay, Bluemull and Yell sound have had to go single vessel during different periods. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

References

1. The Shetland Times, 'Geira problem hits Bluemull Sound ferry service' https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2017/04/12/geira-problem-hits-bluemull-sound-ferry-service,
2. Sawkins, James. "Ferry Timetables". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
3. "Shetland Islands Council - Ferries". 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
4. Griffiths, Rosalind (29 April 2010). "Major disruption for travellers to and from North Isles after ferry ramp fails". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
5. "Wayback Machine". www.shetland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
6. "Ferry Services Update – Unst, Fetlar and Whalsay routes". Shetland Island Council. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
7. "Daggri's drydock schedule adds further pressure on ferry service". Shetland News. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.