Shetland Whalsay Ferry Overstretched
According to an August 20 report from the Shetland Marine News, the capacity of an already overstretched ferry service in Shetland is likely to be cut even further this winter to meet safety regulations introduced after the Estonia disaster in 1994 when 852 people died. The current two ferry service is unable to cope with rising demand and plans to enhance it have been deferred while the authority investigates building a five mile tunnel to the isle. Now the council has said the eight year old ferry Linga must almost halve the number of passengers it carries before being modified to meet new European rules to prevent passenger vessels sinking if they suffer damage to their hull. (Source: Shetland Marine News)
New Paintjob for Sullom Voe Tugs
The five bright red tugs operating at the Sullom Voe Terminal are soon to display the blue and white corporate colors of their new owner. Shetland Towage, a company wholly owned by the Shetland Charitable Trust, was incorporated into the Shetland Islands Council's ports and harbor operation on February 10, in a bid to streamline operations at the harbor and to cut costs. The first of the tugs is expected to be back in the isles from dry-docking in late June, when it will be sporting a blue hull and white superstructure, similar to the look of the council's fleet of inter island ferries. (Source: Shetland Marine News)