Orkney Ferries
Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island ferry services in the Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.
History
The company is owned by the Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company.In 1991, the Orkney Islands Shipping Company acquired a private sector ferry company also called Orkney Ferries, which had been established to compete on the short sea crossing from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands, but which had not succeeded in establishing the route. This company's ferry was assimilated into the inter-island fleet, and in 1995 the Orkney Islands Shipping Company adopted the name Orkney Ferries. Despite this acquisition and change of name, the current Orkney Ferries does not operate services to and from the Scottish mainland, leaving this to other operators such as NorthLink Ferries and Pentland Ferries, which is run by the same people who started the original Orkney Ferries.
Services
Orkney Ferries operate between the Orkney mainland and fourteen of the smaller islands. Services include:- The North Isles service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Eday, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray, Papay, and North Ronaldsay.
- The Shapinsay service, linking Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern island of Shapinsay.
- The Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre service, linking Tingwall on Orkney Mainland to the northern isles of Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre.
- The South Isles service, linking Houton on the Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy, South Walls and Flotta.
- The Graemsay and North Hoy service, linking Stromness on Orkney Mainland to the southern islands of Hoy and Graemsay.
- The Westray to Papa Westray service, linking the islands of Westray and Papay.
Current fleet
| Image | Vessel Name | Cars | Passengers | Service | Launched | Shipbuilders |
| 8 11 | 95 | Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre | 1987 | Abels Shipbuilders, Bristol | ||
| 28 | 142 | North Isles | 1988 | Cochrane Shipbuilders, Selby | ||
| 11 | 91 | Shapinsay Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre | 1988 | Yorkshire Drydock, Hull | ||
| 25 | 190 | North Isles | 1989 | McTay Marine, Bromborough | ||
| 25 | 190 | North Isles | 1989 | McTay Marine, Bromborough | ||
| 16 | 121 | South Isles Shapinsay Relief | 1991 | Campbeltown Shipyard, Campbeltown | ||
| 16 24 | 125 | South Isles | 1994 | Appledore Shipbuilders, Appledore | ||
| 1 | 73 | Graemsay and North Hoy | 1996 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | ||
| N/A | Westray - Papa Westray Relief / Additional | 2012 | Norway | |||
| MV Charles Ann II | N/A | 12 | Westray - Papa Westray | 2012 | ||
| MV Toplander | 6? | 12 | Relief | 2019 | Meercat Boats, Southampton |
was acquired by Orkney Ferries in 2020 to replace. She was to operate on both the Westray to Papa Westray and Graemsay and North Hoy services but has been plagued by issues since arrival.
MV Toplander was acquired by Orkney Ferries in December 2025 as an additional relief vessel to assist the fleet.