Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island ferry services in the Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.

Orkney Ferries Ltd
Company typePublic (Council-owned)
IndustryTransport
Founded1960
Headquarters,
Number of locations
21 ports
Area served
inter-island Orkney
ServicesFerries
OwnerOrkney Islands Council
Websitehttp://www.orkneyferries.co.uk/
Earl Thorfinn at Kirkwall

History

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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.[1]

Services

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Hoy Head at Lyness

Orkney Ferries operate between the Orkney mainland and fourteen of the smaller islands.[2] Services include:[1][3]

Fleet

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Eynhallow at Tingwall
 
Thorsvoe at Houton

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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Smith, Colin (February 2007). "Northern Crossroads". Ships Monthly. IPC Country & Leisure Media. pp. 21–25.
  2. ^ "Internal Ferries". Orkney Islands Council. Archived from the original on 5 January 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Timetables". Orkney Ferries. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
  4. ^ "The Fleet". Orkney Ferries. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Nordic Sea audit report". The Orcadian. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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