Following our transport challenge report in 2023, the Young Islanders Network (YIN) heard from young people that they often feel unsafe due to adult behaviour whilst travelling on ferries. This feeling applies to both mainland Scotland and inter-island ferries.
Following the Young Islanders Network’s Transport Challenge Report, young people across Scotland’s islands told us clearly that feeling safe while travelling is just as important as reliability and affordability. In response, the Young Islanders Network led a dedicated piece of work exploring safety and safeguarding on island ferries, resulting in our new Ferry Safety Report.
Young islanders designed and delivered this work in 2024-2025. Through a co-produced survey and online engagement. Over half of respondents were under 25, offering honest insight into what makes young people feel unsafe on ferries, particularly on longer and overnight crossings. Their feedback highlighted issues such as drunk passenger behaviour, limited staff presence and a lack of clear safeguarding information. Working with ferry operators and Transport Scotland, young people have put forward realistic, evidence-based recommendations, including clearer safety briefings, improved staff training, consistent alcohol policies, accessible sleeping arrangements and the establishment of a Ferry Safety Panel with youth representation.
As part of our wider commitment to youth-led decision making, the Young Islanders Network is already embedded within key regional transport structures including representation on the Ferries Communities Board in the west and the Orkney Transport Forum. These roles ensure young people are not only consulted but actively shaping discussions around safety, accessibility and future planning. Building on this success, we are keen to engage with additional transport boards and stakeholder groups across Scotland to ensure that youth perspectives are integrated consistently and meaningfully wherever ferry and transport decisions are made.
This report from the Young Islanders Network shows that young people who depend on ferries do not feel safe. This affects their communities and their sense of belonging to island communities.
This survey report offers an overview of what makes young islanders feel unsafe aboard ferries and offers real-life solutions:
They are not demanding extreme steps. They demand increased presence from staff, clearer guidelines on safeguarding, improved sleeping facilities and increased alcohol policies. They also demand concerns, especially concerns coming from young people, be taken seriously.
The Young Islanders Network believes that the ferry safety issue has to be dealt with from a safeguarding perspective and not from a purely operational focus. The implementation of a Ferry Safety Panel with youth representation and consistent safety briefing messages would be a strong commitment to listening and heeding the voices of island communities.
Read the report: