A multidisciplinary project to define the future of inter-island ferry services

Shetland Inter-Island Transport Study and Business Cases

Shetland Islands Council funds and operates nine ferry routes across the islands. However, much of their current fleet and shoreside infrastructure is reaching life expiry and there is limited capital funding available to replace them. The service also operates with a revenue deficit, which is funded by the Council.

We developed a Strategic Business Case for the network considering the case for investment in new tonnage and associated shoreside infrastructure, the appropriate level of service which should be provided (timetables, days of operation, length of operating day, etc.), the interaction between ferry and air services, the case for fixed links, and alternative funding, delivery, and management models.

This appraisal process included objective setting, public, stakeholder, and political engagement, supply chain analysis, capacity analysis, crewing models, marine infrastructure design and costing, and operating cost models. The outputs are being used for internal network planning and to engage in funding discussions with Transport Scotland. Each island’s business case is being progressed to Outline Business Case, with a preferred option being worked up in each case.