Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company

Alistair Carmichael has welcomed UK government proposals to strengthen protections for subsea infrastructure, including cables and pipelines, and he has called on people in Shetland and in Orkney to send in their views on the proposals during the 12 week consultation, now open.

One measure which may be of concern in Shetland, unless there is clarification, is that UK government ministers are to gain powers to order telecommunications companies to remove, or disable services, during national security emergencies.

This comes in a week when the House of Commons defence committee stated that a shortage of Royal Navy warships and submarines was leaving the country's critical infrastructure in the High North exposed, including undersea cables and energy supplies.

Energy and transport, including ferry replacements, were the two key topics being discussed with the Shetland Islands Council at the recent SNP conference in Aberdeen. [LDRS]

The Fair Isle ferry, Good Shepherd IV, which broke down off Leiraness when entering Lerwick harbour last Sunday, will be out of service until the week after next to wait the arrival of a spare part.

For the first time an announcement from the National Energy System Operator onn winter resilience will apply to Shetland.

Following a review of the current licensing regime, the telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced changes that will allow vessels, ports and harbours to benefit from faster and more reliable communications.