News and Updates

Please be advised that all sailings to and from Lyness on Wednesday 28th January are under review.

This is due to unfavourable wind directions and swell conditions at Lyness pier.

Please be advised that the 10:35 departure from Kirkwall to Sanday and Stronsay on Wednesday 28th January is under review.

An update is expected in the morning in receipt of the latest forecasts.

We regret to advise customers that the 07:40 departure from Kirkwall to Stronsay and subsequent 09:30 departure from Stronsay has been cancelled on Wednesday 28th January.

The 07:40 sailing from Kirkwall to Sanday and Eday will still depart as scheduled, with a change of route sailing around the North of Eday and via Calf Sound. The updated timetable is as follows:

• Depart Kirkwall – 07:40
• Arrive Sanday – 09:50
• Depart Sanday – 10:00
• Arrive Eday – 10:20
• Depart Eday – 10:35
• Arrive Kirkwall – 13:00

This is due to adverse weather and tidal conditions.

We would like to advise that the afternoon Sanday/Stronsay sailing due to arrive in Kirkwall at 14:40 has been delayed by approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

This is due to the vessel re-routing via Calf Sound due to tidal swell and conditions.

We regret to advise passengers that the 07:30 and 10:00 sailings to Moaness and their subsequent returns on Wednesday 28th January have been cancelled.

All other sailings to Moaness are under review.

This is due to the forecasted weather conditions.

All sailings to Graemsay are running as scheduled.

We would like to advise passengers that all sailings up to and including the 07:45 sailing on Wednesday 28th January are under review.

This is due to the forecasted weather conditions.

We would like to advise passengers that Sunday’s sailing to Eday, Sanday and Stronsay has been brought forward.

This service will now sail to the following times:

Depart Kirkwall – 15:10

Arrive Eday – 16:25

Depart Eday – 16:40

Arrive Sanday – 17:00

Depart Sanday – 17:10

Arrive Stronsay – 17:45

Depart Stronsay – 17:55

Arrive Kirkwall – 20:00

The changes to sailing times are due to the forecasted conditions and the need to clear a backlog created by the ongoing adverse weather conditions.

We would like to advise passengers that the 06:15 sailing tomorrow on the Nordic Sea is now cancelled

The 14:30 sailing is under review and a decision will be made tomorrow morning on receipt of updated forecasts

This is due to forecasted weather conditions

We regret to advise passengers that today’s cargo service to Papa Westray has been cancelled.

The 13:30 departure from Kirkwall to Westray will depart as scheduled, with the updated return times as follows:

• Depart Kirkwall – 13:30
• Arrive Westray – 14:55
• Depart Westray – 15:05
• Arrive Kirkwall – 16:30

All affected passengers have been contacted.

We would like to advise passengers that ALL sailings after the 1315 departure which will call at Lyness and Flotta are now cancelled,

All arrivals at Lyness will also remain under review this morning due to swell and wind direction.

We regret to advise passengers that all sailings between Pierowall and Papa Westray on Tuesday 27th January have been cancelled.

This is due to forecasted weather and tidal conditions.

We would like to advise passengers that all sailings on Tuesday 27th January are now cancelled.

This is due to the current and forecasted weather and tidal conditions.

We would like advise passengers that the 14:15 sailing from Kirkwall to Shapinsay will be the last sailing of the day

The 15:15, 16:00, 16:45 and 17:30 sailings are now cancelled

This is due to forecasted weather conditions

All sailings until 14:15 are no longer under review and will sail as timetabled

We would like to advise passengers that tomorrow’s 14:30 sailing to Eday, Sanday and Stronsay on the Nordic Sea has been cancelled.

This is due to forecasted weather conditions

We would like to advise passengers that the 13:30 Westray/Papa Westray Cargo service is under review.

This is due to forecasted weather & tidal conditions.

An update will be provided tomorrow morning on receipt of the latest forecasts.

We would like to advise customers that the 15:40 sailing to Stronsay, Sanday and Eday is now cancelled.

This is due to forecasted weather conditions.

We would like to advise customers that the 10:40 sailing to Stronsay and Sanday tomorrow is under review

This is due to forecasted weather conditions

We regret to advise passengers that sailings to and from Moaness on Tuesday 27th January are cancelled.

This is due to forecasted weather and tidal conditions.

All sailings to and from Graemsay are under review.

Current forecasts indicate that disruption to services may continue into next week due to wind speed and direction.

Please see our website and social media channels for all information related to disruption to sailings over the coming week.

We would like to advise that the Nordic Sea will be providing a foot passenger service to Eday Sanday and Stronsay over the winter months.

The timetable is available here or in our Kirkwall Office, and can be booked online or over the phone.

This service will run until Saturday 7th March.

We are happy to announce that our summer timetables from the 3rd May – 27th September 2026 are now open for bookings through our offices or online booking system.

We are happy to announce that our summer timetables from the 3rd May – 27th September 2026 are now open for bookings through our offices or online booking system.

Orkney Ferries offers customers a way to receive disruption and cancellation messages to a smart phone or computer via Telegram.

Telegram is a free and simple messaging app with a focus on speed and security.

You can use Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and even computers. It’s very easy to use and only requires a name and mobile phone number to create an account.

To receive updates from please download the Telegram app from your app store, set up your account and then return to this page and select our unique link, which you can access by clicking here - Orkney Ferries Telegram Channel

Once on the channel you will be messaged with any updates on disruptions or cancellations in real time.

- Please note, Telegram is an internationally used social media site/app meaning users may be suspect to receiving spam messages from unknown accounts. When creating a profile to join our channel, be sure to set your Privacy and Security settings to limit Invites and Forwarded Messages.