Work ongoing to change ferry timetable after large vehicle lashing order

Transport officials are working on changing the Bluemull Sound ferry timetable on Shetland.

It comes following a new requirement for all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes to be lashed down on deck on sailings between Yell and Unst.

Shetland Islands Council’s (SIC) ferry and airport operations manager Andrew Inkster told councillors at a meeting on Monday that ten minutes are needed to ensure large vehicles can be strapped down in time.

He also confirmed that, following investigations, no blame has been attributed to staff after a large cement mixer toppled over on the Unst ferry Bigga in October.

No injuries were sustained although one person was treated for shock and some vehicles were damaged.

Inkster, however, conceded it could have been a “very serious incident”.

He told a meeting of the SIC’s environment and transport committee that it was clear crew acted in accordance with the council’s safety management system during October’s incident.

He highlighted that following the MCA’s investigation the agency has removed the master’s discretion over whether to lash down certain vehicles.

The new requirement to lash down all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and other “special vehicles” carrying dangerous goods, has to be adhered to in any weather.

Without adhering to this requirement then the SIC could have its certificate revoked to operate the ferry, the meeting heard.

Lerwick councillor Arwed Wenger asked how much additional time is it now taking to lash down heavy vehicles, with around ten minutes the answer.

“There’s no doubt this will have an impact on ferry timetables,” Inkster said.

Inkster confirmed the Unst “timetable will change” but described it as a “very complicated picture” because it links into Fetlar sailings, and is also reliant on the Yell Sound timetable.

“It’s a large piece of work. We’ve started that work but it’s going to take some time to fully understand the interdependencies between all three routes,” he said.

He told councillors that more input from the Geira on the Fetlar route could be one option but more crew availability would be needed.

Other inter-island ferry routes, including Fetlar, remain unaffected by the order from the MCA.