Scillonian IV Heads Home: A New Era for Isles of Scilly Ferry
A New Ship Sets Sail for the Scillies
For anyone who has ever stood on Penzance harbour watching the Scillonian III ease out past the breakwater, this is a moment worth noticing. The Scillonian IV has left her shipyard in Vietnam and is now on her way to Cornwall, with her final destination the familiar stretch of water between Penzance and the islands. She departed Ho Chi Minh City at 6am local time on Saturday 31 October and is expected to take around two months to complete the journey. Her route runs via the Cape of Good Hope, the same long route taken earlier this year by the freight vessel Menawethan, which tells you how far this ship has to travel before she reaches home. The new vessel is a 75-metre craft capable of carrying 600 passengers, and she will replace the Scillonian III, which has been the lifeline for generations of islanders, post workers, builders, holidaymakers and day trippers. Before she reaches Penzance she will make several fuel stops and spend about three weeks at Piriou’s shipyard in Brittany for a final survey. For those of us who live along the Cornish coast, the Scillies have always felt close, and this new ship is a physical reminder that the connection is being carefully renewed for the decades ahead.
Who Is Behind the Scillonian IV Project
The vessel belongs to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, the company that has run the islands’ passenger and freight services for years. Its chairman, Ian Howard, travelled to Vietnam to witness the departure, and he described it as a hugely significant moment for everyone who has helped bring the ship to life. The Scillonian IV was built by the French firm Piriou, and she is part of a £40 million vessel replacement programme that the steamship group describes as one of the biggest investments in its history. Her crew is provided by a specialist delivery company, but the steamship group’s own technical teams and some of its regular crew members will be closely involved in the final preparations, learning the ship’s systems and helping with the handover. Additional crew members will also have the chance to join the ship for parts of the voyage. For islanders on St Mary’s, Tresco and the smaller inhabited islands, the arrival of a modern vessel means more reliable travel for supplies, medical appointments and family visits. Local shops, cafes, hotels and holiday lets across the islands depend on the ferry for stock and guests, so improved capacity and comfort will be felt directly by businesses that have been waiting a long time for this upgrade.
What Locals and Visitors Should Do Next
The main date to note in your diary is March 2027, when the Scillonian IV is due to enter service. Between now and then expect a steady stream of updates as she reaches Brittany, completes her survey and makes her final approach to Penzance. If you are planning a trip to the islands once she is running, it is worth booking early, especially for peak summer weekends, and checking the steamship group’s latest timetable and pet policy before you travel. If you are bringing a dog, it is sensible to look for dog-friendly accommodation on the islands and confirm the rules for dogs on the ferry and on beaches before you set off, as local byelaws can vary from one bay to the next. Many visitors also like to turn a Scilly break into a wider Cornish holiday. You could go to Newquay for a few nights, enjoy a surf lesson or a walk along Fistral Beach, then drive south to Penzance in time for the crossing. Keep an eye on local news and the steamship group’s channels for sea trial dates and open days, and consider letting us know what you would most like to see from the new ship.
Source: New era for Isles of Scilly as passenger ferry embarks on voyage home
