en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Shetland Islands Council has approved a proposal to advance the next phase of the Inter-island Transport Connectivity Programme, with the core focus on constructing subsea tunnels between some of the islands.

The proposal includes progressing a fixed link between Unst and Yell, while equipping Fetlar with a dedicated ferry and extending operating hours. In the short term, the council will invest in ferry services at Bluemull Sound. For Bressay and Whalsay, investment in ferry services will continue, with a long-term commitment to building fixed links.

Councillors also approved allocating up to £200,000 from the existing budget to advance the project, including conducting further research and assessing financing options. The next step is to develop a draft Implementation Route Map, which is scheduled to be submitted to the council in September, covering a 30-year phased investment plan and high-level cost overview.

The current inter-island ferry network in Shetland faces a series of operational challenges, including a significant rise in operating costs (reaching £25 million in 2024/25), an aging fleet (average vessel age of 32.5 years), difficulties in crew recruitment and retention, and insufficient deck capacity on several key routes.

Council Leader Emma Macdonald stated after the meeting that, with support from the Scottish Government and the UK Government, it may be possible to drive through a tunnel in Shetland within eight years. She noted that islands with fixed links would see population return, economic growth, and a decline in average age. The most critical task now is to continue seeking potential external funding, and the team will report on this when submitting the draft Implementation Route Map in September. She emphasized that inaction is not an option, and both ferries and tunnels are necessary to unlock Shetland's potential, with the Scottish Government and the UK Government having a vested interest in helping achieve this goal.