MV Hendra

MV Hendra is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates as the day vessel on the Laxo or Vidlin to Symbister, Whalsay service.

History
Hendra was bought as the first of the second batch of new builds for the council since they took over the inter-island ferry services in the early 1970s. She currently is the oldest ferry in the council's fleet at 41 years old. Having been in local news recently due to this causing issues with passenger accessibility.

Layout
The Hendra has two lanes on her car deck. Like most SIC Ferries her size she has a passenger lounge located beneath the car deck.

Service
Entering service on 30 November 1982 on the Whalsay service, taking over MV Fylga, which took over the Yell Sound service. Hendra operated alongside MV Kjella until 1988, when she was moved to Yell Sound to take over the vessel she took over when first entering service, Fylga. She operated alongside MV Thora and then MV Bigga until the two new Yell ferries were introduced in 2004. Hendra returned to Whalsay in 2005, where she still operates, as the day vessel, alongside MV Linga.

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

Hendra has on occasion operated as relief such as to Bressay on 11 November 2015 and 23 October 2019.