Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island ferry services in the Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.
History The company is owned by the Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company.
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, which is run by the same people who started the original Orkney Ferries.
Services Orkney Ferries operate between the Orkney mainland and fourteen of the smaller islands. Services include:
The North Isles service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Eday, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray, Papay, and North Ronaldsay. The Shapinsay service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern island of Shapinsay. The Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre service, linking Tingwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. The South Isles service, linking Houton on the Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy, South Walls and Flotta. The Graemsay and North Hoy service, linking Stromness on Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy and Graemsay. The Westray to Papa Westray service, linking the islands of Westray and Papay.
Current fleet Orkney Ferries operates a fleet of inter-island vessels, most of which were specially built for service in the islands. The fleet includes: ImageVessel NameCarsPassengersServiceLaunchedShipbuilders8 (as built)11 (from 1991)95Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre (1987 - )1987Abels Shipbuilders, Bristol28142North Isles (1991 - ) 1988 (acquired 1991)Cochrane Shipbuilders, Selby1191Shapinsay (1988 - )Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre (relief)1988Yorkshire Drydock, Hull25190North Isles (1989 - ) 1989McTay Marine, Bromborough25190North Isles (1989 - ) 1989McTay Marine, Bromborough16121South Isles (1991 - 1994)ShapinsayRelief (1994 - )1991Campbeltown Shipyard, Campbeltown (IV)16 (as built)24 (from 2013)125South Isles (1994 - )1994Appledore Shipbuilders, Appledore173Graemsay and North Hoy (1996 - ) 1996Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, TroonN/A47Westray - Papa Westray (2023 - 2025)Relief / Additional (2025 - )2012 (acquired 2020)NorwayMV Charles Ann IIN/A12Westray - Papa Westray (2025 - )2012 (acquired 2025)MV Toplander6?12Relief (2026 - )2019 (acquired 2025)Meercat Boats, SouthamptonHSC Zevi 1N/A12Kirkwall - Shapinsay, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre (2026 - )2025Artemis Technologies, Northern Ireland was acquired by Orkney Ferries in April 2020 to replace . She was to operate on both the Westray to Papa Westray and Graemsay and North Hoy services but has been plagued by issues since arrival. The council then put out a tender for another new vessel in April 2024 due to the number of issues with Nordic Sea, this became the MV Charles Ann II.
MV Toplander was acquired by Orkney Ferries in December 2025 as an additional relief vessel to assist the fleet.
HSC Zevi 1 is a hydrofoil fast craft, which was delivered in May 2025 and after sea trials will begin service in summer 2026. It will operated with Orkney Ferries for 3 years on a trial period. Another high speed craft, for 50 passengers, is expected to be also delivered. Former fleet ImageVessel NameCarsPassengersServiceLaunchedShipbuildersExtra InformationN/A40Westray - Papa Westray (1986 - 2023)1973 (acquired in 1986)Bideford Shipyard, BidefordShe was withdrawn from service in October 2023 and sold to Northerly Marine Services in 2024, now operating as a passenger ferry and tour boat for charter.MV Hoy Head (III)1093South Isles (1986 - 1991) Relief (1991 - 1994)1973Thorshavnor Skipasmidja, Faroe IslesBuilt for Shetland Island Council FerriesMV IslanderCargo12Freight North Isles services (1969 - 1991)1969John Lewis & Sons Ltd, AberdeenMV OrcadiaCargoPassenger North Isles services (1962 - 1990)1962Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, AberdeenMV Hoy Head (II)36South Isles (1958 - 1976)1955George Thomson & Son, BuckieBuilt as naval vessel MFV.1258 References
External links
Orkney Ferries web site