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First look at new £45.4m Fair Isle ferry

SIC/Paul Armstrong A shiny new blue and white ferry held up by scaffolding. It has been freshly painted and the sun is shining.SIC/Paul Armstrong
Good Shepherd V is expected in Shetland before Christmas

A £45.4m project to replace Fair Isle's 40-year-old ferry has taken a step closer after the new vessel Good Shepherd V was unveiled in Whitby.

The existing boat, Good Shepherd IV, has served the island of 60 people since 1986.

The sea link carries passengers and vehicles between Fair Isle and mainland Shetland. It is currently out of service after breaking down last month.

Tarpaulins have been removed from the scaffolding at the boatyard in Whitby where the new 24-metre monohull vessel has been built.

SIC/Paul Armstrong A large building site with a tall structure covered in white sheets. There are houses to the left and a large crane on the right. SIC/Paul Armstrong
The new vessel is in a boatyard in Whitby, England

The ferry is a vital lifeline for the community, regularly carrying large goods and freight. Fair Isle is also connected to mainland Shetland by a small plane.

The island is half way between Orkney and Shetland.

The transport project includes harbour upgrades, with work underway to install a winch house and cradle for the boat.

Shetland Islands Council (SIC) said specialist boat builders Parkol Marine Engineering had made good progress on the Good Shepherd V.

A spokesperson said the hull and superstructure was now "substantially complete and painted". The vessel will soon be lifted by crane into the water by the quayside on the River Esk.

The project has been funded by £18.6m from the council and a grant of £26.8m from the UK government's levelling up fund.

Sea trials will follow the completion of final work on the boat. The ferry is expected to arrive in Shetland before Christmas, weather permitting.

Councillor Moraig Lyall, chair of SIC's transport committee, said it was a key milestone for the project.

"The Good Shepherd V will be such an important asset for the social and economic future of Fair Isle," she added.