Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island
ferry services in the
Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.
History
The company is owned by the
Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company.[1]
In 1991, the Orkney Islands Shipping Company acquired a private sector ferry company also called Orkney Ferries, which had been established to compete on the short sea crossing from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands, but which had not succeeded in establishing the route. This company's ferry was assimilated into the inter-island fleet, and in 1995 the Orkney Islands Shipping Company adopted the name Orkney Ferries. Despite this acquisition and change of name, the current Orkney Ferries does not operate services to and from the Scottish mainland, leaving this to other operators such as
NorthLink Ferries and
Pentland Ferries.[1]
Services
Orkney Ferries operate between the
Orkney mainland and fourteen of the smaller islands.[2] Services include:[1][3]
MV Varagen, built by
Cochrane Shipbuilders of
Selby in 1988 for the earlier Orkney Ferries, and acquired with the company in 1991. This ferry carries 144 passengers and 32 cars, and is normally used on the North Isles service.
MV Shapinsay, built by
Yorkshire Drydock of
Hull in 1989. This ferry carries 91 passengers and 11 cars, and is normally used on the Shapinsay service.
MV Thorsvoe, built by
Campbeltown Shipyard of
Campbeltown in 1991. This ferry carries 125 passengers and 16 cars, and is used on both the Shapinsay and South Isles services.
MV Golden Mariana, built by
Bideford Shipyard of
Bideford in 1973. This passenger ferry carries 40 passengers, and is normally used on the Westray to Papa Westray service.
MV Graemsay, built by
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company of
Troon in 1996. This ferry carries 73 passengers and 1 car, and is normally used on the Graemsay and North Hoy service.
MV Eynhallow, built by
Abels Shipbuilders of
Bristol in 1987. This ferry carries 95 passengers and 11 cars, and is normally used on the Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre service.
MV Nordic Sea, built in
Norway in 2012 and acquired by Orkney Ferries in 2020 to replace
MV Golden Mariana. She was to operate on both the Westray to Papa Westray and Graemsay and North Hoy services but has been plagued by issues since arrival.[5]
References
^
abcdSmith, Colin (February 2007). "Northern Crossroads". Ships Monthly. IPC Country & Leisure Media. pp. 21–25.