St Sunniva back on route

P&O Scottish Ferries vessel St Sunniva has resumed service again after a technical problem on Thursday night.

The ferry, which serves the Aberdeen-Orkney-Shetland route, was forced to turn back after leaving Aberdeen on Thursday night after a small pipe running through the hull burst.

Post mortem for Hamnavoe dolphin

A post mortem on the dolphin that died in Hamnavoe on Wednesday night is expected soon.

The injured animal had a large gash on its back, and according to SSPCA Inspector Mike Lynch, was struggling to swim and hold its head above water. Unable to humanely destroy it, Inspector Lynch had to leave, but when he returned the next morning the dolphin had drowned.

A Scottish Agricultural College vet is travelling up from Inverness to conduct the examination.

Extra £2.18 million to be spent to ensure ferry piers are ready for NorthLink

An extra £2.18 million looks likely to be pumped into the pier works at Hatston and Stromness to ensure they're ready for the NorthLink service in October.

The decision to spend more money was made at a special meeting of Orkney Islands Council's transportation committee on Thursday. It brings the total cost of the projects to around £23 million.

The OIC's share of the extra money will be £610,000, with the remainder coming from the Scottish Executive.

Stromness folk concede defeat over disputed ferry walkway plans

The people of Stromness conceded defeat this week at a second public meeting about the proposed ferry access walkway.

At a previous meeting, townsfolk unanimously declared the walkway design “unacceptable” and raised a petition against it. However, Islands councillors approved the design last month, despite the protests.

But at the meeting on Thursdasy the general opinion was that there was little else that could be done.

Archive stories: Councillors accept walkway plans despite Stromness objections
Petition after Stromness folk declare walkway "unacceptable"
Revised design welcomed but more walkway discussions needed says Brown

Biz "not convinced" by Prime Minister's response

Orkney MS sufferer Biz Ivol remains unconvinced by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s response to her prosecution for alleged cannabis offences.

“It was nice words and he sounds very concerned, but what the hell is he doing about it? I am definitely not convinced,” she said yesterday. “I wish they would be a little bit more urgent. Why should we, the sick people, have to fight for something that helps?”

Biz Ivol cannabis case raised in Prime Minister's Question Time

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael raised the case of MS sufferer Biz Ivol's forthcoming prosecution in Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons this week.

But although Prime Minister Tony Blair said he understood the concerns and urged the prosecutors to be sympathetic, he said the case must remain a matter for "the authorities, not the Government."

Click here for full account
Archive story: Court summons for wheelchair-bound
cannabis campaigner

NorthLink declare connection with Rosyth ferry to Belgium "unlikely"

The Northern Isles-Zeebrugge ferry connection suggested this week looks unlikely, according to NorthLink.

NorthLink chief executive Mr John Horton said although he couldn't rule it out, it was unlikely to be cost-effective.

He said: “It is not a cheap option to move down to another harbour, you have harbour dues to pay for. I think it is unlikely to be viable but you never rule anything out until you have done the sums."

A funding lifeline may have been thrown at the cash-strapped Northern Isles air and ferry services.

More than £500,000 - earmarked for improving the quality of life in Orkney - could be used to fill this year’s cash shortfall for the transport services.

Orkney’s interim director of finance, Mr Albert Tait, said it could be one issue for consideration by elected members.

Click here for full story

Europe’s top sea anglers to fish Orkney waters

Orkney is to play host to hundreds of fishing enthusiasts next year, when a major fishing event comes to Stromness.

The European Line Class and Boat Championships, run by the European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA), will take place in Stromness from August 2-9, 2003.

The prestigious competition is expected to attract around 200 anglers and their families to the county for what is one of the biggest competition’s in the European fishing calendar.

Oscar Charlie cover continues as contract extended for five years

The Coastguard helicopter, Oscar Charlie, will continue to provide search and rescue cover in Orkney waters - for the time being at least - according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Contracts with Bristow Helicopter Ltd have been continued until June 30 2007, and will ensure that Orkney will still be served by the same Coastguard helicopter, based at Sumburgh in Shetland.

Two Orkney councillors among top ten most expensive in Scotland

Orkney's two senior councillors are in the Scottish top ten of elected members who cost the taxpayer the most in expenses and allowances.

OIC convener Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston and vice-convener Councillor Jim Sinclair are among the ten Scottish councillors who claimed the most in the financial year to April according to latest figures.

But it's all part and parcel of living on an island, Councillor Sinclair explained, with travel costs within, and out of Orkney, resulting in the high figures.

Archive story: Six per cent rise in councillors' expenses

Direct European ferry link for Northern Isles?

A North-East MSP has called for the Northern Isles service to be tied in with the new Scotland-Belgium ferry route.

Scottish National Party MSP Brian Adam has suggested that the Orkney-Shetland-Aberdeen ferry, which docks in Aberdeen until it is time for the return voyage north, could continue on to Rosyth, the site of the new Zeebrugge ferry. This, he says, would provide Orkney and Shetland with a direct link to Europe.

Mr Adam intends discussing his idea with ferry operators NorthLink.

Scrabster terminal delays could see Hamnavoe routed to Aberdeen

NorthLink's ferry service into Stromness - due to begin in October - could be forced to Aberdeen until the new Scrabster pier is completed.

A temporary service to Aberdeen instead of Scrabster is one of three options under consideration, because the Scrabster pier looks unlikely to be ready in time for NorthLink's new ferry, Hamnavoe.

NorthLink chief executive John Horton stressed, however, that this was only one option and it was too early to say whether it was workable. Other solutions include chartering a ferry or fitting a floating linkspan onto the incomplete Scrabster pier.

A total of £182,777 has been awarded to 12 farming projects in Orkney, through the Agriculture and Business Development Scheme (ABDS).

The Orkney projects were among 80 in the Highlands and Islands to get a share of £1,003,653.

The Ferry Inn in Stromness is on the way to becoming Scotland’s top pub.

The bar has made it through to the final 12 out of 40 Scottish bars nominated by readers of the Sunday Mail newspaper.

Adrian Harray, of the Ferry Inn, said they were very surprised and delighted to get this far, and he urged locals to “keep on voting”. Anyone wishing to pledge support for the Ferry Inn should call 0901 383 4046 and enter the number 12 when asked to.

OIC consider options to speed up construction of Hatston terminal

More money could be put into the construction of the new Hatston ferry terminal to ensure it's ready on time.

Islands' councillors are due to meet on Thursday to discuss proposals to speed up the work, to make sure the pier is ready for NorthLink's Northern Isles ferry service, due to start on October 1.

The special meeting of the council's transportation committee will also provide councillors with an update on the costs so far of the pierworks at Hatston and Stromness.

Success for Orkney businesses in Highlands and Islands Awards

Two Orkney business have come up trumps in this year’s Highlands and Islands Business Awards.

The South Ronaldsay based Orkney Stone Company - who design mirrors, plates and fountain basins in Caithness stone - are this year’s Most Promising Newcomer.

In the Smaller Business Award category, Aquatera Limited, which provides environmental services and products, was commended.

Police are looking for witnesses after a car - apparently singled out by vandals - was extensively damaged over the weekend.

The Vauxhall Astra was damaged sometime between 7pm on Friday and 1.30am on Saturday, while parked in the Castle Street car park in Kirkwall.

Police Inspector Paul Eddington said: “It was quite clearly deliberate, and it would have taken some time to do.”

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall Police on 872241.

Young drivers targeted in police crackdown

Northern Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit were in Orkney at the weekend, recorded a number of offences during their visit.

According to Inspector Paul Eddington the officers detected a significant number of offences relating to the three objectives they are attempting to stamp out – drink driving, speeding and non-wearing of seat belts.

He added: “A major worry lately has been the growing increase of young drivers in high-speed vehicles, and a particularly high number of drivers targeted at the weekend fell into this category.”

NorthLink suffered a £116,000 loss in their first year of existence, before taking over ferry services to the Northern Isles.

The company reported the pre-tax losses for the period from October 20, 2000 to September 30, 2001.

During that time the losses were incurred while making plans for their new service, due to start on October 1 this year.

Orkney Islands councillors have proposed not spending money on fitting an council chamber amplification system until further investigations are made about the options available.

Members of the policy and resources committee were told by officials that they should proceed with caution in choosing which type of system to install.

New evidence has been unearthed following a re-excavation of the Neolithic site of the Bookan Cairn, near the Ring of Brodgar.

Dig director, Mr Nick Card, said: “We have been able to identify the different construction periods and get soil samples and some human bone, which should provide us with more accurate dates. It has been a hugely worthwhile exercise.”

The two-week excavation was funded by Historic Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and Manchester University, after fears of site damage by cattle and rabbits.