Orkney Image Library

No Steven, the first ro-ro was the Lyra Bay, started as ro-ro in 1983. Formerly a ferry from Faroe Islands then named SAM, she ran a conventional service using a Hiab type crane prior to the terminals at Houton Flotta and Lyness being built. The Hoy Head seen above was bought from Shetland as they built larger replacement vessels for the service there.

who would have been the main skipper then gordon watters or billy learmonth?

She was the Geira when we had her. She she was sold south to you in April '86. (If the SIC's records are right).

This site apparently won't permit URL's, but if you Google this it'll bring up a page with some info on her history in Shetland.

shetlopedia.com/Geira_(1)

[If you put the URL without the http:// I can sort it for you... ,like so - Steven

Before the ro-ro service started, Post Office Telephones had to hire the Flottarian from Occidental, drive the lorry and tractor down the slip at Burray then drive up the beach at (I think), South Walls.

I'm afraid Occidental fell out with the owners of the burray slip and i had to drive the Tico Truck at full speed off the Flotarian up the beach at the other side of the pier in Burray. We had a longbase landrover which would go on the old Hoy Head (MFV) at high tide and P.F's tractor would also go on but boy did it make the winch squeal.