Shetland Ferry Replacement - Task Force Meeting - 11 February 2026
Attendees
- Shona Robison MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
- Jim Fairlie MSP – Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
- Cllr. Emma Macdonald – Leader of SIC (EM)
- Maggie Sandison - Chief Executive of SIC (MS)
- Official – TS Head of Ferries Policy
- Official – TS Head of Infrastructure Planning
- Official – TS Ferries Policy
- Official – TS Ferries Policy (note taker)
- Private Secretary – PS/Cabinet Secretary
- Private Secretary– PS/Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Key Points
- Cabinet Secretary thanked Cllr Macdonald and Ms Sandison for accepting to meet virtually. Cab Sec also thanked them for the successful summer visits that she and Mr Fairlie made to Shetland in August 2025. Both Cllr Macdonald and Ms Sandison thanked Ms Robison and Mr Fairlie for the visits and welcomed the funding allocations in the draft budget.
- Cabinet Secretary was pleased to note that all actions from the previous Task Force meeting of 30 April 2025 had been completed.
- MS delivered updates on the Fair Isle terminal at Grutness, which is nearing completion despite delays due to weather and supply chain issues. Overall completion is expected for April 2026. Works on Fair Isle itself are due to mobilise next, however, the completion date for the cradle fabrication is still to be determined. The new Fair Isle vessel is on schedule and expected to be delivered in October 2026.
- Relief ferry update: MS stated that the one off £10m capital funding in 2025-26 would be used to purchase a resilience vessel and the procurement process has commenced. The current aim is to report to the Council on the full business case in September 2026 and then move to procurement. The intention is the contract will be for 1 ferry with the option of further 2 which would enhance network flexibility.
- Fixed links update: MS expressed gratitude for both the Task Force meetings and for the 3-year financial plan in the draft budget. MS further appreciated the meeting held with TS Major Projects in January 2026 and given their experience with the Fair Isle project, SIC would build in contingency timescales into the tunnel plans. Ms Robison asked whether the UK Government was sighted on the Council’s plans for fixed links; MS confirmed SIC had been invited to present to DfT the work done so far. Development of the wider fixed link business case work is now progressing at pace and due to report later this year. This next phase will confirm whether there is a robust case for fixed links and the priority order that these could be brought forward in. A key consideration will be the economic and social impacts of constructing a fixed link over the existing ferry operation.
- Cllr Macdonald has connected with the Inward Investment lead at the Department for Trade and is engaging with the Scotland Investment Acceleration Programme to explore what types of investment opportunities were possible. The Cab Sec also added that the National Wealth Fund could be considered further.
- MS confirmed that the four fixed links were still under consideration; however, additional ferries will be required to ensure connectivity in the meantime. Relief vessels will provide resilience and increase community confidence in the ferry network. Another round of community engagements would take place in summer 2026.
- MS confirmed that the Council has submitted evidence on fixed links to the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster and would share this with Ministers. She also said the Council had offered to give evidence in person if required.
- Three international contractors have been visiting Shetland to consider the indicative model route between the mainland and Yell. SIC confirmed that the contractors were confident that the fixed links could be built. Further consideration of funding models is also being progressed. Within this public service reform is an area of consideration and early discussions will be progressed with the Shetland Partnership.
- Under 22’s update: MS has expressed how the community had really welcomed the programme and there had been a significant uptick in applications for NEC cards for access to travel.
- Cab Sec asked about staff recruitment and shift patterns for ferries. MS explained that the new shift patterns have made a difference, giving them the ability to increase wages by incorporating longer periods of leave for those doing the longer shifts. Also, recruitment of apprentices was increasing. SIC has also seen increased interest from female applicants, a number of female deckhands have remained in post and provided good role models for more women to consider a career path in ferries.
- Future of the Task Force: Ms Robison relayed that it will be up to the new administration to decide on the future of the Task Force, and that officials would provide the new administration with a legacy note. Ms Robison and Cllr Macdonald exchanged best wishes and thanked everyone for the work and the willingness to collaborate and the “can do” mentality since the Task Force began in 2023.
Actions
- SIC will forward TS its written evidence on fixed links submitted to the Scottish Affairs Committee.