Plans for an ambitious undersea tunnel network, estimated at £1.5 billion, are expected to receive approval from the Shetland Islands Council. This transformative infrastructure project aims to connect some of the UK’s most northerly islands within eight years, fundamentally altering inter-island transport.
Council leaders advocate for the tunnel scheme as a more financially prudent long-term solution compared to the continuous investment required for new ferries and harbour upgrades. Funding for the project is anticipated to be a blend of private investment, public subsidy, and borrowing, with tolls intended to cover ongoing maintenance costs.
Moraig Lyall, the Council’s transport chairperson, confirmed the technical viability of the project, stating the report showed “no technical barriers to building tunnels.” She further emphasised their economic advantage, noting they would be “cheaper in the long run” than maintaining the current ferry system.
The existing ferry service, which transports approximately 750,000 passengers annually across nine islands using 12 vessels, incurs an operational cost of £23 million per year. These costs have escalated significantly over the past decade, with some routes struggling to meet demand for vehicle capacity and facing crewing challenges.
Lyall articulated the necessity for change:
“The system we have that has served us well for decades is now no longer able to do that. It doesn’t have the capacity and we’re struggling with other things, like the ability to crew the system adequately. These barriers to giving the islands a really good service are not going to be easily overcome by replacing ferries with other ferries. The tunnel is the answer that we believe will help us solve these problems.”
The proposed tunnels are expected to deliver substantial economic uplift, particularly for Unst, the UK’s most northerly island. Unst is home to the Saxavord spaceport and a significant aquaculture industry. The feasibility study highlights that tunnels would enhance the spaceport’s “competitiveness, efficiency and scope for growth,” while also improving access to skilled labour for local businesses and stimulating broader aerospace industrial development and tourism.
Brydon Barclay, a boatbuilder at Fluggaboats on Unst, underscored the critical need for improved connectivity. “It’s absolutely essential,” he stated, adding, “At the moment, we’re running with a ferry service that just isn’t meeting the demand at all.”
Shetland’s plans draw inspiration from the Faroe Islands, a neighbouring North Atlantic archipelago, which has successfully developed an extensive tunnel network since the 1960s. With over 20 tunnels, including four subsea links, the Faroes connect many of its island communities. Notably, a 7.1-mile (11.4km) tunnel, reaching a depth of 187 metres (614ft) below the Atlantic, features the world’s only subsea roundabout and has halved travel times between the capital, Tórshavn, and Klaksvik, the country’s second-largest town.
The then Faroese Prime Minister, Aksel Johannesen, previously advised that such infrastructure could “boost growth, revitalise island life and encourage population growth” for Shetland, stating, “I think we have learned in the Faroe Islands that investment in infrastructure is a good investment.” The Faroe Islands has a population of around 54,000, compared to Shetland’s 23,000 residents.
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The concept of fixed links is gaining traction across other Scottish island communities. Earlier this year, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles council, announced it would explore building tunnels or bridges across the Sounds of Harris and Barra. This broader debate has been intensified by widespread discontent regarding the reliability of the existing Caledonian MacBrayne ferry network serving the Hebrides and Clyde.
Andy Sloan, executive vice president at engineering firm Cowi, which has advised the Shetland Islands Council, outlined a construction timeline of three years for preliminary work followed by five years for excavation and building with a sprayed concrete lining. Sloan believes the proposed project is relatively straightforward from an engineering standpoint.
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