Lerwick Port Authority has signalled cautious optimism about a potential new ferry service connecting Shetland to Iceland, following recent discussions between Aberdeen and Icelandic officials. While the proposal remains in its early stages, the authority has indicated it would ‘welcome the development of new links’—though only if they prove feasible.
The interest stems from Aberdeen’s exploration of a passenger and freight ferry route to Seyðisfjörður on Iceland’s east coast. The plan, still conceptual, could include a stop in Lerwick, though no firm commitments have been made. Lerwick Port Authority stressed that ‘considerable further work’ would be needed to assess commercial viability, logistics, and demand before any service could materialise.
The port’s chief executive, Bob Sanguinetti, previously expressed interest in such a connection, noting that a regular Aberdeen-Iceland route would be ‘of interest’ to the port. However, the authority’s statement to The Shetland Times made clear that ‘it is too early to draw any conclusions’ about the proposal. Shetland’s current ferry links—operated by NorthLink Ferries to Aberdeen and Orkney—have long been a lifeline for the islands, but the loss of the Norröna route to Iceland in 2007 left a gap that some hope could be filled.
The idea of reviving Icelandic connections has gained political traction. Highlands and Islands Green MSP Kristopher Leask has called for the new ferry to include Orkney as a stop, while Múlaþing councillor Helgi Hlynur Ásgrímsson and Mayor Dagmar Ýr Stefánsdóttir have discussed the plans with Aberdeen officials. An unnamed ferry operator has also reportedly shown interest, though the route’s success would hinge on freight traffic—passenger numbers alone are unlikely to sustain it.
For Shetlanders, the prospect of a direct Icelandic link carries both nostalgia and practical appeal. The Norröna’s removal in 2007 was a blow, cutting off a route that had connected the islands to the Faroe Islands, Denmark, and Iceland since 1963. If the Aberdeen-Iceland service gains traction, Lerwick Port Authority’s openness to ‘exploring opportunities’ suggests Shetland could yet play a role in reviving those ties—provided the numbers add up.