If you’ve tried to get an online quote for a delivery to Shetland, you’ll know the problem: the calculator either breaks, refuses to quote, or produces a number that makes no operational sense. As a same day courier based in Seaham, County Durham, we get this call more than you’d expect — and the answer is always the same: we need to quote this manually.

The Ferry Problem

Shetland has no fixed road link to the UK mainland. Everything going there crosses the North Sea via NorthLink Ferries from Aberdeen — a 12 to 14 hour sailing. That fact alone kills every standard same-day service model.

  • The vehicle or freight needs to be booked onto the ferry — priced by vehicle dimensions and freight type
  • Sailings run on a fixed schedule, not on courier-friendly windows
  • If the driver accompanies the vehicle, you’re looking at a 24-plus-hour round trip minimum
  • Driver hours regulations apply throughout — this can’t be treated as a single shift

Remote or Unusual Delivery?

We quote every job properly. No calculator, no guesswork.

Get a Manual QuoteCall: 07538 227194

What Goes Into the Cost

  1. Drive to Aberdeen — typically 4–5 hours from the North East.
  2. Ferry booking — vehicle deck space priced by length and type.
  3. Aberdeen accommodation — depending on sailing times.
  4. Local delivery on Shetland — Lerwick is straightforward; rural addresses require planning.
  5. Full return journey — the complete round trip is factored in from the start.

Remote island deliveries are a reminder that logistics is fundamentally a human problem. The route planning, timing, and cost calculation can’t always be automated.

For a Shetland or remote island quote, call 07538 227194 or get a quote online. We cover collections across Seaham, Sunderland, County Durham, Newcastle, and the wider North East.