Freelance writer Louise Thomason speaks to podcast host Marjolein Robertson about her work, including her own blog: https://www.girlinthenorthsea.com/
They talk about the need for self discipline when working from home, finding creativity and living and writing in Shetland.
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.
Anti-social ferry passengers have been warned they could be refused travel and face criminal proceedings.
NorthLink Ferries managing director Stuart Garrett said his staff should not have to face such behaviour and he had “no hesitation” calling the police.
Mr Garrett would not divulge the nature of the anti-social behaviour but said some of it had taken place in cabins.
He was responding to a question at Tuesday’s external transport forum by chairwoman Moraig Lyall, who said she had been “saddened” to hear about recent poor behaviour.
She asked whether it was a growing issue and suggested reminding folk not to take the service for granted or to mistreat it.
Mr Garrett said his team kept a record of behaviour incidents and it was “very disappointing” for staff who had to deal with it.
Mrs Lyall echoed his disappointment.
“I would hope that when these things to occur action is taken to make it clear to people that sort of behaviour is not acceptable and ultimately the sanction can be that they are not permitted to travel,” she added.
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Lyall said she found the reports concerning.
“Everyone wants to travel in a vessel that is a pleasant place to be so when people are mistreating it that has an impact on the rest of the travelling public and the staff who are doing their best to keep it in a good condition,” she added.
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.
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