SIC Ferries
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Shetland Islands Council Ferries Ltd
| slogan =
| type = Public (Council-owned)
| genre =
| founded = 1972
| founder =
| location = Sella Ness, Sullom Voe, Shetland
| locations = 17 ports
| area_served = Inter-island Shetland
| key_people =
| industry = Transport
| products =
| services = Ferries
| market cap =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Shetland Islands Council
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries}}
| footnotes = Previously Zetland County Council Ferries (~1972 - 1975)
| intl =
}}
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.{{cite web| url=http://www.shetland.gov.uk| title=Home| publisher=Shetland Islands Council| accessdate=23 May 2011}} The company operates services across 10 of the Shetland islands.{{Cite web |date=2007-05-28 |title=Shetland Islands Council - Ferries - A Brief History |url=http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/history.asp |access-date=2023-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528190411/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/history.asp |archive-date=28 May 2007 }}
Services
File:The Bressay Ferry at Lerwick - geograph.org.uk - 100945.jpg
Services of the SIC Ferries are:{{Cite web|url=http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferryinfo/service_status.asp|title = Ferry Status}}
- Bluemull service linking the North Isles at Gutcher, Yell; Belmont, Unst; and Hamars Ness, Fetlar. This is done in a triangular service, where one ferry mostly operates between Belmont and Gutcher, with a few trips to Fetlar, and other is based in Fetlar and makes a few daytime trips between Gutcher and Belmont.
- Bressay service to the Isle of Bressay from Lerwick on the Mainland.
- Fair Isle service to Fair Isle from Grutness or Lerwick on the Mainland.
- Foula service to the Isle of Foula from Walls on the Mainland. This service is operated by BK Marine, a Shetland-based workboat hire company.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=route map|url=https://www.shetland.gov.uk/homepage/16/route-map|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926212842/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/mapofservices.asp|archive-date=26 September 2018|access-date=25 October 2020|website=Shetland Islands Council}}{{Cite web |title=Foula Ferry Booking Information {{!}} BK Marine |url=https://www.bkmarine.co.uk/foula-ferry |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.bkmarine.co.uk}}
- Out Skerries service to the Isle of Out Skerries from Symbister (on Whalsay), Vidlin or Lerwick both on the Mainland.
- Papa Stour service to the Isle of Papa Stour from West Burrafirth on the Mainland.
- Whalsay service to Symbister on the Isle of Whalsay from Laxo on the Mainland.
- Yell service to Ulsta on the North Isle of Yell from Toft on the Mainland.
Current Fleet
The SIC Ferries fleet of 12 ferries consists of:{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=official document reviewing status of ferries in scotland, p. 18|url=https://www2.gov.scot/resource/doc/935/0105733.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 October 2020|website=}}
Previous Fleet
The following vessels used to be part of the SIC ferries fleet, information left blank is unknown:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Vessel Name !Cars !Passengers !Service !Launched !Left !Shipbuilders |
| MV Westering Homewards (II)
|N/A | |Rejected Build, meant to be Foula |1990 |1990 |Jones Buckie Slip & Shipyard Ltd, Buckie |
| FV Ivy Leaf
|N/A | |Papa Stour (1981 - 1986 (Charter)) | |1986 | |
| MV Thora
|10 |93 |Yell Sound (1975 - 1980 (summer), 1980 - 1991) |1975 |2015 |Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles |
| MV Fylga
|10 |93 |Yell Sound (1975 - 1976, 1982 - 1988) |1975 |2005 |Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles |
| MV Grima
|10 |93 |Yell Sound (1974 - 1975 (summer)) |1974 |2004 |
| MV Geira (I)
|10 |93 |Yell - Unst (1973 - 1975) |1973 |1986 |Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles |
| MV Fivla (I)
|10 |93 |Yell Sound (1973 - 1975, 1976 - 1982) |1973 |1982 |Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles |
| MV Koada ex Good Shepherd (III)
| | |Fair Isle (1972 - 1984 (local run), 1984 - 1986 (SIC)) |1969 |2004 |
| MV Kjella
|12 |63 |Whalsay (1980 - 1998) |1957 |1998 |Kaarbos MY NS, Norway |
| MV Spes Clara
| | |Out Skerries (1975 - 1983) |1947 |2003 |
| MV Shalder
|N/A | |Bressay (1973 - 1974) | | |
| MV Tystie
|N/A | |Yell - Unst (? - 1973 (local run)) | | |
| MV Westering Homewards (I)
|N/A | |Foula (1962 - 1978 (local run), 1978 - 1990 (SIC)) |1962 | |
| MV Brenda
|N/A | |Bressay (1933 - 1972? (local run), 1972? - 1973 (SIC)) | | |
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.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Work on new Fair Isle ferry project underway to meet tight deadlines |url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2023/02/12/work-on-new-fair-isle-ferry-project-underway-to-meet-tight-deadlines/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Shetland News |language=en-GB}}
= 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.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-17 |title=Electric boat to be trialled between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour after government funding award |url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2023/02/17/electric-boat-to-be-trialled-on-papa-stour-ferry-route-after-government-funding-award/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Shetland News |language=en-GB}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/ SIC Ferries Official Site]
{{Scottish Ferry Operators}}
Category:Ferry companies of Scotland
Category:Transport in Shetland