Filla Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On March 5, 2026, the ferry 'Filla' was officially taken out of service and is currently docked in Kymbister due to a propeller malfunction caused by a section of discarded rope entangling the port side propeller. This incident has compounded challenges for the Shetland Islands Council, as three additional ferries – 'Geira', 'Daggri', and 'Hendra' – are also undergoing planned dry dock maintenance, drastically limiting service availability to a single vessel. During a council meeting on March 9, members discussed the precarious state of inter-island ferry services, noting the absence of spare ferries in the fleet. As the situation continues to evolve, it has been decided to temporarily keep the 'Filla' sidelined while the ferry 'Fivla' steps in to maintain service. Essential repairs will necessitate taking the 'Filla' out of the water. With the annual dry-docking scheduled for early April, 'Filla' will remain out of service until then, while gearbox repairs are actively underway to ensure a timely return to operation.

On January 20, 2020, the ferry service linking the island community of Skerries with the Shetland mainland experienced a temporary disruption. This unexpected setback occurred after a crew member aboard the 'Filla' was contacted by the Test and Protect team, instructing them to undergo a Covid-19 test. The council-operated ferry service was scheduled to resume operations on January 21, with the possibility of either the existing crew or a replacement crew. Fortunately, late on January 20, the Covid-19 test results returned negative, allowing for a hopeful outlook for the service's continuation.