Orkney Council secures £3m Scottish Government funding amid plans to replace island ferry fleet

Orkney Council has secured £3m in funding from the Scottish Government amid plans to replace its internal ferry fleet.

The funding award will help the local authority develop a planned pilot for two electric ferries, as well as its business case for a replacement internal ferry fleet.

Under the plans, eight new vessels would be introduced, including three large ferries to serve the islands of Westray, Stronsay, Sanday and Eday.

Meanwhile plans are being drawn up for all of Orkney’s air and ferry-linked island communities, with the hopes that investment in the ferry network will boost tourism in the area.

The £3m award is on top of an additional £42m provided in this year’s budget to support local authority ferry services across Scotland.

Finance secretary Shona Robison, who chairs the Orkney Internal Ferry Replacement Task Force, said: “This funding will enable Orkney Islands Council to take forward its business case to replace its internal ferry fleet. It will also help bring forward their pilot of electric ferries and I am grateful to Orkney Islands Council for its constructive engagement through this process.

“The Scottish Government is committed to working alongside Scotland’s island communities, to empower them to thrive. Since 2021-22 our Islands Programme has distributed more than £12m to support 61 critical infrastructure projects on 50 islands.

“We are also collaborating with islanders, local authorities and delivery partners to ensure that the new National islands Plan – which we expect to publish next year – meets their needs and supports their ambitions.”

Orkney Islands Council leader Heather Woodbridge said: “The engagement with the Scottish Government through the task force has been extremely constructive – and we very much welcome this funding announcement which puts us on a sure footing as we progress our work at pace on the final business case.

“This funding package is the first financial commitment in the collaborative approach that is being taken to replace Orkney’s ageing internal ferry fleet, with discussions continuing on the delivery of the next tranche of business case funding and the shape of the financial model that will allow us to provide a modern ferry fleet that our island communities need and deserve.”