Orkney Ferries
| Company type | Public (Council-owned) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 21 ports |
Area served | inter-island Orkney |
| Services | Ferries |
| Owner | Orkney Islands Council |
| Website | http://www.orkneyferries.co.uk/ |
Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island ferry services in the Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.
History
The company is owned by the Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company.[1]
In 1991, the Orkney Islands Shipping Company acquired a private sector ferry company also called Orkney Ferries, which had been established to compete on the short sea crossing from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands, but which had not succeeded in establishing the route. This company's ferry was assimilated into the inter-island fleet, and in 1995 the Orkney Islands Shipping Company adopted the name Orkney Ferries. Despite this acquisition and change of name, the current Orkney Ferries does not operate services to and from the Scottish mainland, leaving this to other operators such as NorthLink Ferries and Pentland Ferries, which is run by the same people who started the original Orkney Ferries.[1]
Services
Orkney Ferries operate between the Orkney mainland and fourteen of the smaller islands.[2] Services include:[1][3]
- The North Isles service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Eday, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray, Papay, and North Ronaldsay.
- The Shapinsay service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern island of Shapinsay.
- The Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre service, linking Tingwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre.
- The South Isles service, linking Houton on the Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy, South Walls and Flotta.
- The Graemsay and North Hoy service, linking Stromness on Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy and Graemsay.
- The Westray to Papa Westray service, linking the islands of Westray and Papay.
Current fleet
Orkney Ferries operates a fleet of inter-island vessels, most of which were specially built for service in the islands. The fleet includes:[1][4]
| Image | Vessel Name | Cars | Passengers | Service | Launched | Shipbuilders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Eynhallow | 8 (as built) 11 (from 1991) |
95 | Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre (1987 - ) | 1987 | Abels Shipbuilders, Bristol | |
| MV Varagen | 28 | 142 | North Isles (1991 - ) | 1988 (acquired 1991) | Cochrane Shipbuilders, Selby | |
| MV Shapinsay | 11 | 91 | Shapinsay (1988 - ) Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre (relief) |
1988 | Yorkshire Drydock, Hull | |
| Earl Sigurd | 25 | 190 | North Isles (1989 - ) | 1989 | McTay Marine, Bromborough | |
| Earl Thorfinn | 25 | 190 | North Isles (1989 - ) | 1989 | McTay Marine, Bromborough | |
| MV Thorsvoe | 16 | 121 | South Isles (1991 - 1994) Shapinsay Relief (1994 - ) |
1991 | Campbeltown Shipyard, Campbeltown | |
| MV Hoy Head (IV) | 16 (as built) 24 (from 2013)[5] |
125 | South Isles (1994 - ) | 1994 | Appledore Shipbuilders, Appledore | |
| MV Graemsay | 1 | 73 | Graemsay and North Hoy (1996 - ) | 1996 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | |
| MV Nordic Sea | N/A | Westray - Papa Westray (2023 - 2025) Relief / Additional |
2012 (acquired 2020) | Norway | ||
| MV Charles Ann II | N/A | 12 | Westray - Papa Westray (2025 - ) | 2012 (acquired 2025) |
MV Nordic Sea was acquired by Orkney Ferries in 2020 to replace MV Golden Mariana. She was to operate on both the Westray to Papa Westray and Graemsay and North Hoy services but has been plagued by issues since arrival.[6]
Former fleet
| Image | Vessel Name | Cars | Passengers | Service | Launched | Shipbuilders | Extra Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Golden Mariana | N/A | 40 | Westray - Papa Westray (1986 - 2023) | 1973 (acquired in 1986) | Bideford Shipyard, Bideford | She was withdrawn from service in October 2023 and sold to Northerly Marine Services in 2024, now operating as a passenger ferry and tour boat for charter. | |
| MV Hoy Head (III) | 10 | 93 | South Isles (1986 - 1991)
Relief (1991 - 1994) |
1973 | Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe Isles | Built for Shetland Island Council Ferries[7][8] | |
| MV Islander | Cargo | 12 | Freight North Isles services (1969 - 1991) | 1969 | John Lewis & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen | [9][10] | |
| MV Orcadia | Cargo | Passenger North Isles services (1962 - 1990) | 1962 | Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen | [11][12] | ||
| MV Hoy Head (II) | 36 | South Isles (1958 - 1976) | 1955 | George Thomson & Son, Buckie | Built as naval vessel MFV.1258[13][14][15] |
References
- ^ a b c d Smith, Colin (February 2007). "Northern Crossroads". Ships Monthly. IPC Country & Leisure Media. pp. 21–25.
- ^ "Internal Ferries". Orkney Islands Council. Archived from the original on 5 January 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ "Timetables". Orkney Ferries. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
- ^ "The Fleet". Orkney Ferries. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "MV Hoy Head | Cammell Laird". clbh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ "Nordic Sea audit report". The Orcadian. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Widdows, Nick (April 1995). Ferries of the British Isles 1995. Ferry Publications. pp. 80–82, 121. ISBN 1-871947-29-4.
- ^ King, Neil (12 October 2008), MV Hoy Head (III), 1989, retrieved 31 October 2025
- ^ Widdows, Nick (May 2005). Ferries 2005: British Isles and Northern Europe. Ferry Publications. pp. 118–119. ISBN 1-871947-80-4.
- ^ King, Neil (11 October 2008), North Ronaldsay, 1989, retrieved 31 October 2025
- ^ King, Neil (11 October 2008), MV Orcadia, Kirkwall, 1989, retrieved 31 October 2025
- ^ "Google". www.google.com.hk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ "Google". www.google.com.hk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ "Orkney Image Library - Hoy Head coming in to Lyness". photos.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ "Orkney Image Library - MFV1258, Hoy Head". photos.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.