News and Updates

Please be aware that the 10:00 services from Stromness to Graemsay and Moaness will now run at 09:00.

Timings are as follows;

Depart Stromness 09:00

Depart Moaness 09:30

Depart Graemsay 09:45

This is due to a required survey inspection on the MV Graemsay.

The 12:00 cargo service has also been rescheduled and will now sail at 14:30 once the survey inspection is complete.

Please note, the MV Graemsay will operate the 07:30 departure as normal, and we will commence services on the scheduled timetable from the 16:00 sailing.

We would like to advise customers that, to accommodate the Papa Westray Parish Cup match on Saturday 23rd May, there has been change to the advertised arrival time into Kirkwall.

The amended sailing times are as follows:

Depart Kirkwall 1620

Arrive Westray 1745

Depart Westray 1755

Arrive Papa Westray 1830

Depart Papa Westray 1840

Arrive Kirkwall 2030

The Papa Westray sailings will only be for Parish Cup passengers and is not a bookable service.

We are pleased to be able to offer five late Saturday sailings over the summer period for Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre.

These are scheduled for 9^th May, 13^th June, 11^th July, 8^th August and 12^th September

Sailing times are as follows:

Depart Rousay 22:00

Depart Tingwall 22:35

Depart Rousay 23:10

Depart Wyre 23:20

Depart Egilsay 23:40

Arrive Rousay 23:55

Bookings can be made online, in person or by calling our offices.

These sailings are on request and must be booked and paid by 15:00 on the day of the departure or the service will not operate.

Due to a failure of one of the bow thrusters on board the Hoy Head identified during annual refit, the vessel will continue in service with some restricted operability in certain prevailing weather conditions with a single bow thruster in operation as it has done over the last few weeks.

This will unfortunately continue to have an impact on some sailings that may have been possible otherwise with both bow thrusters operable.

Considering the long lead time for replacement parts which are now on order and scheduled to be delivered to us in around 10-12 weeks, we considered that it was better to have the vessel return to service operating on the Hoy route throughout the busy spring and summer period albeit with the potential of some increased disruption due to the restrictions outlined above.

We plan to operate the vessel throughout the summer period on the scheduled service until such time that we have taken delivery of the required parts to complete the repair. When the repair to the Hoy Head is being completed and the vessel is out of service the MV Thorsvoe will return to cover as relief vessel on the route.

If there is any potential improvement to the timescales for the delivery of parts and the completion of the repair, we will share this information in due course. We apologise in advance to our customers for any inconvenience that will be caused because of this over the summer period and thank you for your patience in this matter.

We regret to advise that there is a further delay to the Nordic Sea returning from refit.

This is due to an extended lead time for parts from the engine manufacturer.

The vessel is expected to return to service on Sunday 31st May.

Orkney Ferries offers customers a way to receive disruption and cancellation messages to a smart phone or computer via Telegram.

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You can use Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and even computers. It’s very easy to use and only requires a name and mobile phone number to create an account.

To receive updates from please download the Telegram app from your app store, set up your account and then return to this page and select our unique link, which you can access by clicking here - Orkney Ferries Telegram Channel

Once on the channel you will be messaged with any updates on disruptions or cancellations in real time.

- Please note, Telegram is an internationally used social media site/app meaning users may be suspect to receiving spam messages from unknown accounts. When creating a profile to join our channel, be sure to set your Privacy and Security settings to limit Invites and Forwarded Messages.