Boat in £15m Orkney electric ferry trial to return to Belfast

A small electric passenger ferry which has been going through sea trials is leaving Orkney to allow upgrades to be carried out in Belfast.

The ferry is part of the three-year Electric Orkney project - a £15m trial funded by the UK government's Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure (Zevi) fund.

The vessel's hydrofoil technology lifts its hull above the water, enabling it to travel at high speed.

It is hoped the boat will be back over summer following its upgrade, and it could begin carrying passengers later this year.

The 39ft (12m) ferry was built by Artemis Technologies in Belfast and is being operated by Orkney Ferries.

They hope it will eventually provide rapid travel between Orkney's islands once it completes its trials.

The journey time for passengers between Kirkwall and the nearby island of Shapinsay could be cut from 25 minutes by conventional ferry to just eight minutes by hydrofoil.

Artemis Technologies chief executive officer Iain Percy told BBC Radio Orkney the boat needed a software upgrade and some technical modifications.

"The main thing we are doing is bringing the boat back to tune its alarm systems," he said.

"If we compare it to a car, we all know what it's like getting a low tyre pressure warning light.

"It's nothing fundamental and the upgrade won't take too long."

A second, larger Zevi ferry is expected to begin trials in Orkney next year.