Hans J Marter

29 August 2008

A ROOT and branch review of Scotland’s many ferry services is to get under way later this summer.

The Scottish Government today (Friday) confirmed details of the review which they say will lead to an enhancement of services across all Scottish routes.

A strategy for lifeline ferry services is to be published in October next year, including proposals for a fairer fares structure, better use of vessels and better connectivity of individual services.

Today’s announcement follows on from the Scottish parliament’s own inquiry into ferry services, which had called for a strategy to deliver a modern, efficient and responsive ferries network, in June this year.

At the time, the inquiry’s results were criticised in Shetland as it gave no hint how central government could help in financing the huge expenditure needed to deliver a modernized inter island ferry service.

Today, Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson reiterated the government’s commitment towards remote and island communities.

"The work we are beginning will give us a better understanding of how services meet current needs and how best to configure services to meet future needs.

"We are determined to improve transport links across Scotland so that communities and individuals can make the fullest possible contribution to our goal of increasing sustainable economic growth.

"It builds on work already underway to reduce the cost of ferry journeys to and from the Western Isles, and the enhancements we have made to services to Orkney and Shetland,” he said.

Chairman of the Shetland transport partnership, ZetTrans, councillor Allan Wishart said ferry services, both external and internal, were crucial to the social and economic wellbeing of the isles.

“I hope they take good notice of the importance of the northern isles service as a means to give equal opportunities and access to services for islanders.

“Our inter island services are equally important as they are lifeline services to the outlying islands.

“If we don’t get the ferry strategy right, then, I fear, we could see further depopulation of Shetland’s more remote areas.

“My fear is that if people leave the islands they may not stop in Lerwick but move on to the Scottish mainland,” he said.

The ferry review will run until autumn 2009, in time for the start of the re-tendering of the northern isles lifeline ferry service.

The terms of the review can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/Committee2