Procurement begins for new ‘lifeline’ freighter-flex vessels

Procurement has begun for the much sought after freighter-flex vessels which are hoped to enhance the lifeline ferry service.

Blame and accusations are holding back major SIC projects, councillor claims 

A senior councillor has claimed major projects have been held back due to poor procurement and departmental infighting.

Screen depictions of Shetland driving increased tourist visits

The number of visitors to Shetland has risen more than a tenth over the past five years — mostly inspired to visit by film, TV and books about the isles — according to new survey data published in full today (Monday).

The latest Shetland Islands visitor survey also found that the tourists spent more than £50 million in 2024, as councillors were told at a meeting of the development committee last week.

The figures do not include visitors from cruise ships.

The spending surge represents a real terms increase of 13 per cent since 2019, which development committee chairman Dennis Leask said represents a “remarkable recovery” for this isles’ visitor economy since the pandemic.

“While there are always areas where improvements can be made,” said the Lerwick South councillor, “the survey results will greatly help our efforts to responsibly sustain and grow tourism in Shetland, with the isles continuing to be a unique and attractive destination for visitors from all over the world.”

Just over half of the survey’s respondents said they were inspired to visit by popular representations of Shetland in film, TV and literature — doubtless including Ann Cleaves’ book series and subsequent BBC adaptation.

More visitors than ever also enjoyed their stay in Shetland, according to the survey.

Seven of every 10 visitors told VisitScotland Shetland was “one of the best holidays they have ever taken.”

NorthLink warns of delays on ferries

Passengers can expect disruption to NorthLink services over the next few days as weather forecasts predict gusts of 55 mph.

The ferry service warned of “minor” delays on arrival in Aberdeen, with the freight vessels Helliar and Hildasay expected to be late.

Passenger ferries scheduled to travel today (Monday) are so far unaffected and are expected to depart as scheduled.

The Met Office has forecast winds of up to 55 mph overnight tonight, with winds reaching 50mph in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

POLL: Should media refrain from covering court cases to aid offenders’ rehabilitation? 

A councillor has called into question the role of the media in reporting on criminal court cases.

Ferries benefit from ‘indestructible’ key cards, refurbished lounges and faster internet through Elon Musk’s Starlink

Ferries returned from dry dock with refurbished lounges, faster internet and ”relatively indestructible” cabin key cards, a meeting heard.

NorthLink Ferries managing director Stuart Garrett shared the newly improved features with members of the external transport forum on Tuesday.

These included a complete overhaul of the Magnus Lounge on the Hjaltland and Hrossey.

Mr Garrett also said the new cabin key cards worked better than their predecessor.

Whereas the old boarding cards could easily be wiped and require resetting at reception, the new radio frequency identification cards were ”relatively indestructible”, according to the NorthLink boss.

He also also showed photos of cabling work which was carried out on the vessels in preparation for the introduction of electric hook-ups at Aberdeen and Lerwick ports. 

Mr Garrett said the ferries were “ready to go” and shore power would be a “great addition” to the ports. 

It will enable the vessels to switch off their diesel generators while berthed at the ferry terminal and use electricity from the port via cable hook-ups.

Mr Garrett said he hoped the system would be up and running in at least one of the ports by the time of the next forum meeting in September.

NHS Shetland chairman Gary Robinson welcomed the shore power project, which he said would be “really positive from an environmental perspective”.

However, he also raised a “long-standing bugbear” with Mr Garrett - slow internet speeds on board.

Mr Robinson said many NHS staff travelled by ferry and it was useful for them to be able to get online to work during the journey.

Mr Garrett said NorthLink had recently introduced Starlink - the satellite internet service engineered by Elon Musk’s Space X.

He said the service was up and running for his northward journey on Monday night.

And he said there were extended “nodules” throughout the vessel to achieve greater coverage.

The work was carried out during the vessels’ visit to dry dock in February and March.

The Hjaltland was delayed returning from dry dock due to a flooded pump room, which led to significant service disruption.

Thousands of RTS meters still unchanged a month before ‘switch off’

With little over a month until Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) signal is “switched off”, almost 4,000 meters are still unchanged across the isles, according to the latest Ofgem figures.

At the current rate of installation all of those meters are unlikely to replaced until next March.

After the switch off homes with RTS meters could be left with their heating either permanently on, or off, providers have warned.

The latest installation figures were shared with councillors at a meeting of the development committee this morning (Wednesday).

Since efforts began in March, 755 buildings have been equipped with new smart meters.

“At that rate of installation there will still be 3,000 meters to be replaced with the shutdown comes into effect in June,” said Douglas Irvine, the council’s future energy manager.

In fact, at that rate, all 3,930 remaining RTS meters are unlikely to be replaced until next March.

“The push now has to be to get that work done,” Mr Irvine added, “before the colder weather comes.”

Those smart meters which have been installed, meanwhile, have not all worked, he added.

Deputy leader Gary Robinson reminded the chamber that having a smart meter installed entitles customers to support even if the new equipment does not work.

Energy providers have a regulatory obligation to make sure that customers with new smart meters do not experience increased costs, or a deterioration of service. Those who do not switch could be left in the lurch come June.

“Whether they work or not, you need to get one,” Mr Robinson said.

• Councillors also discussed “rumours” that the switch off could be delayed in Shetland, or rolled out in stages. Read the full story in this week’s issue of The Shetland Times, out Friday 30th May.

Dogs, cats and ‘slippery friends’ among the 15,000 pets to have travelled in NorthLink cabins

Dogs, cats and snakes were among the 15,000 creatures to have travelled in pet friendly cabins since their introduction in summer 2020.

Council looks to hire ’empty homes’ officer to help tackle housing crisis

Shetland Islands Council is searching for a full-time officer to analyse how many homes are currently left empty across the isles, and develop a strategy for how they might be coaxed back into use.

A graduate officer is currently preparing a report on empty homes in Shetland, which is expected before councillors by September.

That role could soon be bolstered by a dedicated empty homes officer, director of development Neil Grant told a meeting of the council’s development committee this morning (Wednesday).

Shetland has three times the number of long-term empty homes compared to the mainland average, according to 2023 figures published by the national records of Scotland.

The majority of these — roughly 150 — are in Lerwick, though the northern and eastern isles have the highest proportion of empty homes.

Shetland is one of only four Scottish councils which has neither an empty homes officer nor empty homes service — along with Moray, Midlothian and Clackmannanshire.

In other council areas, empty homes officer have worked by surveying owners to understand why their homes are empty. In severe cases some councils have enforced compulsory purchase orders to put long-standing empty homes back on the market.