Orkney is set to benefit from a £15m funding award which will see two electric vessels running routes in the county over a three-year trial period.

A twelve-meter vessel will be operating year-round services in the inner North isles and another 24-metre vessel, for passengers and light cargo will operate around Eday, Stronsay, Sanday and Westray. 

These vessels will work with the intention of demonstrating and testing how this type of technology could be used in Orkney in the future.

Orkney Island council will be trailing these two electric ferries in a partnership with Artemis Technologies and The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) as part of their ‘Electric Orkney’ project with charging infrastructure also being installed.

Council Leader James Stockan said: “Orkney is so often at the heart of the cutting edge of technology and with this award we are placing ourselves at the very centre of the latest developments in the maritime industry, supporting our fragile remote island communities and creating opportunity from challenge.

“The funding announcement comes following a Herculean effort by our officers and I heartily congratulate them on their success.

“Whilst this is tremendous news, this latest development must not be confused with our drive to secure funding for replacement ferries.

“This work is about looking at how we can, in the future, decarbonise our fleet – a key point of discussion with the Scottish Government.  Securing two vessels of this smaller size is the first stage in that process, allowing us to see how electric vessels might work, with a view to potentially upscaling in the future when further funding packages are in place” he added.

The Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) fund takes tech from the factory to the sea by supporting projects which have a long-term impact in reducing carbon emissions.