Good Shepherd IV
Encyclopedia
The Good Shepherd IV is a ferry
connecting Fair Isle
to Shetland Mainland
owned by SIC Ferries
.
, has been in service since 1986 and is operated by the Shetland Islands Council
.
The previous ferry on this route, the Good Shepherd III, was a former inshore trawler, owned by the islanders since 1972.
There are sailings three times a week from Grutness
Pier near Sumburgh Head
in summer and one per week in winter. There are fortnightly sailings from Lerwick
, the capital of Shetland.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
connecting Fair Isle
Fair Isle
Fair Isle is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting.-Geography:...
to Shetland Mainland
Shetland Mainland
The Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's ferry and air connections....
owned by SIC Ferries
SIC Ferries
Shetland Islands Council Ferries is a company operating inter-island ferry services in Shetland, a subarctic archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland.-Services:Services of the SIC Ferries are....
.
History
The ship, built in FifeFife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, has been in service since 1986 and is operated by the Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council
The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council...
.
The previous ferry on this route, the Good Shepherd III, was a former inshore trawler, owned by the islanders since 1972.
Service
The ferry carries up to 12 passengers and one car.There are sailings three times a week from Grutness
Grutness
Grutness is a small settlement and headland at the southern tip of the main island of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is located close to Sumburgh Head, and is the terminus of the ferry service between the Shetland Mainland and Fair Isle.-External links:*...
Pier near Sumburgh Head
Sumburgh Head
Sumburgh Head is located at the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland in northernScotland. The head is a 100 m high rocky spur capped by the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. The Old Norse name was Dunrøstar høfdi, it means "The Head onto the Thunderous Noise", referring to the noise of Sumburgh Roost...
in summer and one per week in winter. There are fortnightly sailings from Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
, the capital of Shetland.