'Huge day' for far-flung Fair Isle residents as new ferry Good Shepherd V unveiled

Fair Isle residents were "extremely excited" on Thursday to see the replacement for their unreliable, noisy, slow and uncomfortable 40-year-old lifeline ferry unveiled ahead of its expected arrival by Christmas. They said Good Shepherd V, which will connect them with Shetland 24 miles away, was “so overdue” and vital to securing the viability of the 50-strong community. The 24m-long ferry, whose hull and superstructure are “substantially complete” at the Parkol Marine Engineering shipyard at Whitby in Yorkshire, is due to be lifted by crane into the River Esk “soon”, according to Shetland Islands Council (SIC).

Remaining work before its sea trials include fitting out internal spaces and testing systems. SIC said: “It is expected the new vessel will leave Whitby to arrive in Shetland before Christmas, weather permitting.” Fair Isle Committee chair Eileen Thomson said: “This was a huge day for us which is so overdue. We are extremely excited - this is really heartening. “Good Shepherd IV [the current ferry] has been a very loyal and valuable servant that has done very well, but it is now out of date, uncomfortable and can be ‘roly-poly’ at sea.

“It’s also highly inaccessible for those with mobility problems because of its vertical ladders, is very noisy and has provided a very patchy service as it has been out of action for maintenance for two months a year. “The new ferry, which is long overdue, will be larger, quieter, more comfortable and reliable, and faster - completing the crossing in two hours rather than two-and-a-half hours.” Ms Thomson said the link, which operates once a week in the winter and three times a week in the summer, was a lifeline because it transported the island’s food, and fuel which could not be carried by air.

She said Good Shepherd V would boost the economy by enabling more people to visit, such as the bird observatory which was rebuilt following a devastating fire seven years ago, and by assisting the development of other projects. SIC said work was continuing on the island’s harbour to install a winch house and cradle for the boat noust, or landing site, so the ferry could be taken out of the water in poor weather. It said an extension to the pier and a new breakwater at Grutness, beside Sumburgh Airport in Shetland, was nearing completion.

The council said the new ferry and harbour upgrade would cost an estimated £45.4 million, comprising £18.6m from the local authority and £26.8m from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund. The shipyard was awarded the £5.6m contract for Good Shepherd V in June last year. Moraig Lyall, chair of the council’s environment and transport committee, said: “This is a key milestone for the project - after months under wraps, it’s good to see the new vessel unveiled before the final stages of work take place.

“The Good Shepherd V will be such an important asset for the social and economic future of Fair Isle.” Fair Isle’s first proper sea crossing was established in 1921. The inaugural Good Shepherd - a converted lifeboat - took up to six hours to reach Grutness, but it was destroyed during a gale in 1937.