Shapinsay Out of Hours Ferry Service

04/05/2026

Notice of Fare increase from the 18th of May
https://shapinsay.org.uk/transport/out-of-hours-ferry/

Due to rising running costs, we will be implementing a small increase to our fares.

Adult fares will increase from £10 to £11
Under 18 fares will increase from £3 to £3.50
We have worked to keep this adjustment as minimal as possible while ensuring we can continue to operate the service in a sustainable way.

Thank you for your understanding.

Notice of Price Increase from the 18th of May Due to rising running costs, we will be implementing a small increase to our fares. We have worked to keep this adjustment as minimal as possible while…

05/02/2026

The public Calendar for the out of hours service is here,
https://www.keepandshare.com/calendar/show.php?i=2001706&fbclid=IwAR073jwbUur1mGZtgr9dMmZZ7GiPjpFHsDBtrhPzn3e5hcu7__H9mv90aok All the latest information about sailings times or cancellations can be found there.

Please make bookings between 9am and 4pm daily. You may not get a reply right away, but you should get a response by 4.30pm at the latest. Any messages or calls after 4pm will be dealt with the next day.

Everything you need to know about how to make your booking, how to contact the boat to let them know if you are late etc is here:
https://shapinsay.org.uk/transport/out-of-hours-ferry/

Please do not contact the boats master to make or change bookings unless it's on the night, after 5pm and you need to let them know you will be late or won't be showing up. Northerly Marine services do not take bookings for this service.

View the bookings calendar here. To Book: Phone, voice mail, Whatsapp or text: 07901 575162 Office hours for bookings are: Monday to Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sundays 9am-12pm.

28/01/2026

Due to Wind and Tidal conditions for the coming days, there will be no out of hours for the rest of this week (28/1/26-1/2/26)

26/01/2026

UPDATES - TUESDAY 27th January - OOH sailing is CANCELLED
Wednesday 28th through to Sunday 1st February are all *UNDER REVIEW*.

We will try to give as much notice as possible, but just so you are all aware, due to the forecast for the whole of this week, all the sailings are under review.

(Thanks Mervyn for the photo of the Nigg Bay)

21/01/2026

Thank you so much to Northerly Marine Services for doing a run when the tide allowed the day and getting folk, laptops and even chips where they needed to be! Can't have a takeaway with no chips and we don't know what the rest of the week has in store!

Hope you can all manage to bide on dry land until this spiel o' weather is by!

Thanks to Mervyn Rendall for the photo of the Nigg Bay making her way across with some seasoned mariners who take it all in their stride!

20/01/2026

All weekday sailings have been cancelled this week due to adverse weather forecast for the rest of the week - Next scheduled sailing is Saturday 24th.

(Photo from last nights trip when the weather was kinder the northern lights put on a show, looking towards the south!)

19/01/2026

Due to forecasted weather conditions, the out of hours is under review from Tuesday onwards

15/12/2025

There is currently high demand for the Friday night sailing this week. There may be enough interest to add a second sailing, so we ask that you please book in advance. This will help us confirm whether there are enough passengers to justify an additional boat.