MV Geira approaching Gutcher, Yell from Fetlar.
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Geira (II)
Owner	Shetland Islands Council
Operator	SIC Ferries
Port of registry	Lerwick
Route	Whalsay (1988 - 2005) Bluemull Sound (2005 - )
Builder	Dunstons, Hestle & Millers, St Monans, Fife
Completed	1988
In service	2 July 1988
Refit	Once a year, normally January
Identification	IMO number: 8712489 MMSI number: 232003604 Callsign: MJPA7
Status	In Service
General characteristics
Type	Ro-Ro Vehicle & Passenger Ferry
Tonnage	Gross Tonnage: 226 Net Tonnage: 69 Deadweight Tonnage: 103.7
Displacement	335.7
Length	30 m (98.4 ft)
Beam	9.0 m (29.5 ft)
Draught	2.612 m (8.6 ft)
Depth	3.85 m (12.6 ft)
Decks	4 (2 Passenger)
Ramps	Bow and Stern ramps and a Bow Visor
Installed power	2 x Kelvin TASC8 @ 470kW each
Propulsion	Twin screw 1x Bow Thruster
Speed	10 knots
Capacity	96 passengers 12 cars 1 Artic
Crew	4

MV Geira is a ro-ro passenger and car ferry that operates on the Bluemull sound service,^[1] operated by SIC Ferries. She is based in Hamars Ness, on Fetlar.^[2]

History

She is the second MV Geira built for SIC Ferries, the first being built in 1973 as a part of the first batch of inter-island ferries for the council. MV Geira is the part-sister ship of MV Bigga, being built at the same yard to slightly different specification. However, she is closer in design to MV Fivla (II).

Layout

MV Geira has 2 lanes on her car deck. Like most SIC Ferries her size she has a passenger lounge located beneath the car deck.^[3]

Service

MV Geira berthed at Fetlar.

Between 1988 and 2005, MV Geira operated on the Whalsay Sound route. She operated alongside MV Kjella, MV Thora, then MV Linga.

In 2005, when replaced by MV Hendra, she was transferred to the Bluemull Sound route, operating as the day vessel based out of Fetlar.

Due to an issue with the Toft linkspan, she operated a special service between Vidlin and Ulsta, Yell from 29 April to 4 May 2010.^[4]

References