Good Shepherd IV

Good Shepherd IV is a Scottish ferry, connecting Fair Isle to Shetland Mainland. It is owned by SIC Ferries and operated by NorthLink Ferries.[3][4]

Good Shepherd IV in Fair Isle harbour
History
Scotland
Name: Good Shepherd IV
Owner: SIC Ferries
Route: Fair Isle
Ordered: February 1985
Builder:
Yard number: 1024
Launched: February 1986
Maiden voyage: 24 May 1986
Identification:
  • IMO:
  • MMSI: 232003605[1]
  • Callsign: GFXQ[1]
General characteristics
Tonnage: 76.38 GT; RT 45.33; 54.2 DWT[2]
Displacement: 125.6 tonnes
Length: 18.3 m (60 ft 0 in)
Beam: 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Draught: 2.63 m (8 ft 8 in) (max)
Depth: 3.168 m (10 ft 4.7 in)
Propulsion: 1 × Volvo TMD 121C 6 cyl 12 litre 239kW / 315hp
Speed: 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)

History

The ship, built in St Monans, Fife, has been in service since 1986 and is operated by the Shetland Islands Council.

The previous ferry on this route, Good Shepherd III, was a former inshore trawler, owned by the islanders since 1972.[5]

A news report in September 2020 indicated that some members of Council believed that the 31 year old Good Shepherd IV was due for replacement but that Holyrood had not authorized that expenditure. Councillor Allison Duncan was quoted as saying, "I think it’s despicable that they can’t at least look after one of our remote islands by giving them the boat that they justly deserve".[6]

Service

The ferry carries up to 12 passengers and one car.[7]

There are sailings three times a week from Grutness Pier near Sumburgh Head in summer and one per week in winter. There are fortnightly sailings from Lerwick, the capital of Shetland.[8][9]

References
  1. Vessel details for Good Shepherd, marinetraffic.com
  2. "Good Shepherd IV". Shetland Islands Council. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. "Fair Isle". NorthLink. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. "Travelling to Fair Isle (via Shetland)". Fair Isle Bird Observatory. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. "Shetland Islands Council". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  6. "Councillor calls wait for progress on replacement Fair Isle ferry 'despicable'". Shetland News. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. "Fair Isle". Visit Shetland. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  8. "Timetables". Fair Isle. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  9. "Tiny Scots island with population of just 65 self-isolating in bid to beat coronavirus". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 November 2020.


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