Latest Orkney Stories

EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 2012 is the year of Creative Scotland, making it the perfect time to experience the country's culture and creativity for yourself. Fantastic events and festivals showcase some of the most exciting creative talent and experiences Scotland has to offer throughout this spring and summer. These events include open air concerts, music festivals, thrilling fire displays, scientific wonders and the glitz and glamour of the big screen in...

Investigators searched Saturday for the source of a mystery oil slick off the Scottish coast that has fouled scores of sea birds. Volunteers had found at least 130 birds covered with oil, The Scotsman reported. The slick in the Pentland Firth between the mainland and the Orkney Islands was first noticed in mid-week. Officials said they believe the oil was either illegally dumped by a ship or released from a wreck. Richard Bradley of British Marine Divers Rescue said the slick comes at an...

By DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT ALEX Salmond yesterday declared that the Pentland Firth would be "the epicentre of Scotland's future in renewable energy" as it officially became one of the country's first marine power sites. The First Minister unveiled his vision to make Scotland's seabed available to allow the power of tides to be transformed into the electricity that would turn the area into the powerhouse of Europe. He made clear that environmental concerns would not stand in...

By DOUGLAS HAMILTON AQUAMARINE Power, the Edinburgh-based marine energy company, announced yesterday that it has appointed Martin McAdam as its chief executive. McAdam joins Aquamarine from wind farm developer and operator Airtricity, where he was chief operating officer. He founded Airtricity's North American operations that were purchased in 2007 by E.ON, the German energy group, for GBP750,000. Irish-based Airtricity was acquired by Scottish & Southern Energy for GBP1.08bn in February....

A PILOT was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday - to change a faulty light bulb. The plane, carrying 32 passengers from Shetland to Aberdeen, was diverted after the pilot reported a smell of burning. A full emergency was declared and the fire service, ambulance and police went on standby at Kirkwall airport on Orkney to meet the Loganair plane. The Saab 340, which left Sumburgh airport at 2pm and had been due to arrive in Aberdeen at around 3pm, landed in Orkney at 2.54pm. All...

By JOHN ROSS THE Scottish Government was under pressure last night to resolve a damaging industrial dispute that disrupted the travel plans of more than 2,000 air passengers yesterday. Strike action by fire and rescue staff meant more than 70 lifeline flights were cancelled at nine of the 11 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) on behalf of the government. Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick airports were closed....

STRIKE action is to hit nine Scottish airports today, with 2000 passengers having flights cancelled because of a pay dispute involving firefighters. Scheduled flights will be suspended due to the action by members of the trade union Unite. The action will lead to the closure of the airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick. A second 24 hours of industrial action is planned for July 4. Operators Highlands and Islands Airports Limited...

By DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT LOGANAIR, the airline which flies to some of the most remote and fragile communities in the country, is preparing to cut some of its flights this summer because of the rise in fuel costs. Passengers who have already booked will be offered flights the same day, but island representatives last night called on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to recognise the seriousness of this development . Loganair flies as British Airways franchisee to the likes of...

By DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT NINE airports in the Highlands and Islands are likely to be closed to scheduled flights on Monday because of industrial action in by the trade union Unite which represents firefighters. Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd's (HIAL) at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick are all expected to be closed to scheduled traffic. Their closure is due to the unavailability of rescue and firefighting staff who are...

NINE Scots airports will be shut by strike action on Monday in a dispute over pay, it was confirmed yesterday. The airports at Tiree, Wick, Barra, Benbecula, Kirkwall, Campbel town, Islay, Sumburgh and Stornoway are expected to be closed to scheduled traffic due to the absence of rescue and firefighting staff. Highlands and Islands Airports said staff at Inverness are not taking the action and it will operate as normal. But flights to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles from Inverness...