Islands around the world rely on ships as their lifeline service - for everything from their domestic supplies, to making hospital visits, as well as supporting vital industries like tourism. When the services go down, for weather or technical reasons, these remote communities are cut off from the mainland, with no back-up option.
We hear from opposite sides of the world - Scotland and New Zealand - where unreliable car ferries disrupt the daily lives of residents and visitors.
And we hear from a company running one island ferry service that's working to improve its reliability.
(Picture: Caledonian MacBrayne ferry coming into Brodick harbour, Scotland.)
Presented and produced by Neil Morrow