SIC Ferries

Last updated

Shetland Islands Council Ferries Ltd
Company type Public (Council-owned)
Industry Transport
Founded1972
Headquarters Sella Ness, Sullom Voe, Shetland
Number of locations
17 ports
Area served
Inter-island Shetland
Services Ferries
Owner Shetland Islands Council
Website www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries
Footnotes /references
Previously Zetland County Council Ferries (~1972 - 1975)

Shetland Islands Council Ferries (often named SIC Ferries) is a company operating inter-island ferry services in Shetland, a subarctic archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland. [1] The company operates services across 10 of the Shetland islands. [2]

Contents

Services

The Bressay Ferry, MV Leirna, at Lerwick. The Bressay Ferry at Lerwick - geograph.org.uk - 100945.jpg
The Bressay Ferry, MV Leirna, at Lerwick.

Services of the SIC Ferries are: [3]

Current Fleet

The SIC Ferries fleet of 12 ferries consists of: [4] [6]

ImageVessel NameCarsPassengersServiceLaunchedShipbuilders
Hendra malakoff slip.jpg MV Hendra 1295 Whalsay (1982 - 1988, 2005 - )
Yell Sound (1988 - 2004)
1982 McTay Marine, Bromborough, Merseyside
SNOLDA arriving at Papa Stour pier - geograph.org.uk - 3271772.jpg MV Snolda, ex Filla (I)612 Out Skerries (1983 - 2003)
Papa Stour (2004 - )
1983Simek AS, Flekkefjord, Norway
Fivla2 towed to slip.jpg MV Fivla (II) 1295 Bluemull (1985 - 2005)
Relief (2005 - ) [7]
1985 Ferguson Ailsa, Troon
Goodshepherd4.jpg MV Good Shepherd(IV) 1
(Craned on) [8]
12 Fair Isle (1986 - )1986James N Miller & Son Ltd, St Monans, Fife
Ship Geira 02.jpg MV Geira (II) 1296 Whalsay (1988 - 2005)
Bluemull (2005 - )
1988Dunstons, Hestle & Millers, St Monans, Fife
Bressay ferry "Bigga" at the Lerwick Pier - geograph.org.uk - 893352.jpg MV Bigga 1696 Yell Sound (1991 - 2004)
Bluemull (2004 - )
1991Dunstons, Hestle & Millers, St Monans, Fife
Leirna Lerwick.jpg MV Leirna 19124 Bressay (1992 - )1992 Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow
New Advance, The Voe - geograph.org.uk - 3553320.jpg MV New Advance
(Operated by BK Marine)
1
(Craned on)
12 Foula (1996 - )1996Richardson's Boatyard, Stromness, Orkney
MV Linga - geograph.org.uk - 5190469.jpg MV Linga1895 Whalsay (2002 - )2002 Stocznia Polnocna, Gdańsk
Filla lerwick.jpg MV Filla (II) 930 Out Skerries (2003 - )2003 Northern Shipbuilders, Gdańsk
Daggri toft.jpg MV Daggri 31144 Yell Sound (2004 - )2003 Northern Shipbuilders, Gdańsk
Dagalien bressay sound.jpg MV Dagalien 31144 Yell Sound (2004 - )2004 Northern Shipbuilders, Gdańsk

Previous Fleet

The following vessels used to be part of the SIC ferries fleet, information left blank is unknown:

Vessel NameCarsPassengersServiceLaunchedLeftShipbuilders
MV Westering Homewards (II)N/ARejected Build, meant to be Foula 19901990Jones Buckie Slip & Shipyard Ltd, Buckie
FV Ivy LeafN/A Papa Stour (1981 - 1986 (Charter))1986
MV Thora1093 Yell Sound (1975 - 1980 (summer), 1980 - 1991)
Whalsay (1998 - 2002)
Relief (2002 - 2015)
19752015Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles
MV Fylga1093 Yell Sound (1975 - 1976, 1982 - 1988)
Whalsay (1976 - 1982)
Bluemull (1988 - 2004)
19752005Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles
MV Grima1093 Yell Sound (1974 - 1975 (summer))
Lerwick - Whalsay (1975 - 1976 (Charter))
Bressay (1976 - 1992)
Whalsay (1993)
Relief (1993 - 2004)
19742004 Bideford, Devon
MV Geira (I)1093 Yell - Unst (1973 - 1975)
Bluemull (1975 - 1985)
19731986Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles
MV Fivla (I)1093 Yell Sound (1973 - 1975, 1976 - 1982)
Bressay (1975 - 1976)
19731982Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles
MV Koada ex Good Shepherd (III) Fair Isle (1972 - 1984 (local run), 1984 - 1986 (SIC))
Papa Stour (1986 - 2004)
19692004 Bideford Shipyard, Devon
MV Kjella1263 Whalsay (1980 - 1998)19571998Kaarbos MY NS, Norway
MV Spes Clara Out Skerries (1975 - 1983)
Spare, Cargo to Isles (1983 - 2003)
19472003 Herd & McKenzie, Buckie
MV ShalderN/A Bressay (1973 - 1974) Shetland Isles
MV TystieN/A Yell - Unst (? - 1973 (local run))
Bressay (1973)
Shetland Isles
MV Westering Homewards (I)N/A Foula (1962 - 1978 (local run), 1978 - 1990 (SIC))1962 Shetland Isles
MV BrendaN/A Bressay (1933 - 1972? (local run), 1972? - 1973 (SIC)) Shetland Isles

Proposed Future Fleet

Fair Isle

In January 2023, £26.7 million was awarded by the UK Government, as part of the 'levelling up' fund, to the Shetland Islands Council for the purchase of a new ro-ro ferry for Fair Isle and new terminals at both the Grutness and Fair Isle ports, including linkspans. The new ferry is expected to be similar to the MV Snolda, with 25m length and capacity for about 4 cars and a crane. The work is due to be completed by April 2026. [9]

Papa Stour

There is also a project involving Coastal Workboats and BK Marine to trial a fully electric ro-ro ferry between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour. The cost of project will be roughly £9 million, with £6 million of which funded by the UK Government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. This trial is due to last 4 weeks from March 2025, in hope of it taking full time service. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shetland</span> Archipelago in the Northern Atlantic

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway. It is the northernmost region of the United Kingdom.

Yell is one of the North Isles of Shetland, Scotland. In the 2011 census it had a usually resident population of 966. It is the second largest island in Shetland after the Mainland with an area of 82 square miles (212 km2), and is the third most populous in the archipelago, after the Mainland and Whalsay.

Papa Stour is one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, with a population of under fifteen people, some of whom immigrated after an appeal for residents in the 1970s. Located to the west of mainland Shetland and with an area of 828 hectares, Papa Stour is the eighth largest island in Shetland. Erosion of the soft volcanic rocks by the sea has created an extraordinary variety of caves, stacks, arches, blowholes, and cliffs. The island and its surrounding seas harbour diverse populations of wildlife. The west side of the island is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the seas around the island are a Special Area of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Isles</span>

The North Isles are the northern islands of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The main islands in the group are Yell, Unst and Fetlar. Sometimes the islands in Yell Sound are included in this group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop of Orkney</span> Head of the Scottish diocese, c. 1035–1688

The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics of Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunrossness</span>

Dunrossness, is the southernmost parish of Shetland, Scotland. Historically the name Dunrossness has usually referred to the area on the Shetland mainland south of Quarff. However, in 2016 there were three separate Shetland Community Councils for a) Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh; b) Sandwick; and c) Dunrossness. The 2011 census defined Dunrossness as including everybody within the British ZE2 postal code, which goes as far north as Gulberwick. It has the best and largest area of fertile farmland of any parish in Shetland. Dunrossness includes the island of Mousa, Levenwick, St Ninian's Isle, Bigton, Scousburgh, the Lochs of Spiggie and Brow, Boddam, Quendale, Virkie, Exnaboe, Grutness, Toab, Ness of Burgi, Clumlie Broch, Scatness, Sumburgh Airport, Sumburgh Head, West Voe, the islands of Lady's Holm, Little Holm, Horse Holm island and Fair Isle.

<i>Good Shepherd IV</i> Scottish ferry, connecting Fair Isle to Shetland Mainland

Good Shepherd IV is a Scottish ferry, connecting Fair Isle to Shetland Mainland. It is owned and operated by SIC Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A968 road</span> Road in Scotland

The A968 in Shetland is the United Kingdom's northernmost A-road. It connects the islands of Yell and Unst to the island of Mainland. The road is actually separated into three. The length of the part of the road on Mainland is 9.8 miles (15.8 km), on Yell 17.4 miles (28.0 km), and on Unst 10 miles (16 km). The road is marked red on most maps and goes from the A970 on Mainland to Haroldswick. It is 41.9 miles (67.4 km) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nesting, Shetland</span>

Nesting is a parish in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It includes a part of the east Shetland Mainland, measuring about twelve by four miles, along the seaboard from Gletness to Lunna Ness, and also the island of Whalsay and the Out Skerries. The coast is deeply indented by voes and headlands. The arable land comprises only about 1,000 acres, the remainder being mostly open moorland. The total area is given as 105.6 km2. This includes the ancient parish of Lunnasting in the North and the island parish of Whalsay to the east, which were added to Nesting in 1891. Before that, the ancient parishes of North Nesting and South Nesting were merged.

MV <i>Leirna</i>

MV Leirna is a double ended ro-ro passenger ferry operated by SIC Ferries. She operates between Bressay and Lerwick.

MV <i>Geira</i>

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

MV <i>Hendra</i>

MV Hendra is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates as the day vessel on the Laxo or Vidlin to Symbister, Whalsay service.

MV <i>Fivla</i>

MV Fivla is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates as the fleet relief vessel.

MV <i>Snolda</i>

MV Snolda is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates as the West Burrafirth to Papa Stour service. The ship was originally named MV Filla until 2003.

MV <i>Filla</i> (2003)

MV Filla is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates on the Vidlin or Symbister, Whalsay or Lerwick to Out Skerries service.

References

  1. "Home". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  2. "Shetland Islands Council - Ferries - A Brief History". 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. "Ferry Status".
  4. 1 2 "route map". Shetland Islands Council. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. "Foula Ferry Booking Information | BK Marine". www.bkmarine.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. "official document reviewing status of ferries in scotland, p. 18" (PDF). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. Sawkins, James. "Docking Schedule". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. "A Guide to Using Our Ferries". Shetland Island Council Ferries. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. "Work on new Fair Isle ferry project underway to meet tight deadlines". Shetland News. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. "Electric boat to be trialled between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour after government funding award". Shetland News. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.