
Electric hydrofoil passenger ferries and Scotland’s Programme for Government – what lies ahead for Orkney ?
Electric hydrofoil passenger ferries and Scotland’s Programme for Government – what lies ahead for Orkney ?
Orkney’s ferries are ageing and fuel-prodigal – but what can replace them? Could it be new energy-efficient ships, or bridges or tunnels or causeways – or a mix of all the various options?
“If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.”- Henry Miller
Engineers assessing the berthing requirements have told Jim Buck that it would be better just to have a completely new pier with an estimated cost of between £20 and £25million
“Having used inter-island ferries in Orkney over the summer, I recognise the challenge for the councils in the Northern Isles and other Scottish local authorities that have responsibility for ferries. That is why the Scottish Government has provided more than £136 million over the past five years to support the running of these services around Scotland.”
A view from the Hamnavoe to the Graemsay Ferry.
You may be forgiven, if you do not live in Orkney, if you think that the only issue affecting the islands is that of FERRIES. And of course, they are very important, but Transport involves a lot more than that.
Scotland’s Transport Minister, Kevin Stewart has resigned, having only been in office since March, citing health reasons for his departure.
“The islanders complain they are now totally cut off. Before the war the islanders could rely on a regular two vessel service, but this was withdrawn when the barrier was opened.” – Sunday Post 08.02.1948
Ferries – politicians are fired up about them, and if you look at comments on social media (health warning – not advisable to do so regularly) it seems the public are too. Then where were the people when Project Neptune came to Orkney?