Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company

The members of the Shetland Islands Council have held a special meeting to review the Inter-island Transport Connectivity Programme.

The members decided Yell Sound will be the first fixed link; Bluemull Sound will be the next fixed link with a dedicated vessel for Fetlar; and Whalsay and Bressay will have continued investment in ferries with commitment to fixed links. Fair Isle has already got a new ferry on the way and Foula will continue as now. There is a need to do something for Papa Stour and Skerries.

The sail training vessel the Swan is due in Harlingen in the Netherlands to join the Tall Ships Races.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed that pupils from all three schools in Yell have been sailing recently on board the Swan.

Alistair Carmichael, as chair of the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee, has called on the UK government to give an indication of its goals for the share of UK gross domestic product that is contributed by agriculture in the future.

After the coastguard broadcast a pan-pan message, the Lerwick lifeboat was launched on service to a yacht that had mechanical problems and had grounded in Aith Voe in the North of Bressay.

The 13 metre wooden Zulu fishing drifter, Maggie Helen, designed by John Shewan and built in 1904 by Hay & Co at Hay’s Dock in Lerwick, has returned to Dublin Bay with Irish news services highlighting the Shetland connection.