Isles of Scilly sea ferry and air services - merged posts

[whole diary]

[johoare]

I've been on that boat twice and it didn't make me feel ill at all but many other people were suffering even though the crossings I was on were relatively calm (way out) and slighly less calm (way back). I would not like to travel today or tomorrow on it though. Not even in the downstairs "sick" room (which is my name for it - not the official name  )

[old original]

Today's crossing got canned, not surprising really

[stuving]

The closest I got to that ocean-going punt was going down to the harbour at St Mary's to see the surviving passenger coming ashore - so hard to colour-match that shade of green. We'd flown across, and that was scary enough (he helicopters had stopped). On the way back we landed at both St Mawgan and Newquay - at about 45^o across the runway. (This would be about 1974.)

I don't remember much about visiting to the Isle of Man as a young teenager, apart from the crossing on the Manxman. That has a similar reputation, and I thought a similar (lack of) draught - but apparently it's about twice the Scillonian's. Still, at that age it was quite bad enough for me.

[Jamsdad]

'Twas ever thus. The renowned Victorian/ Edwardian photographer Gibson produced a memorable series of photos showing the increasing despair of passengers on the original Scillonian as they head west wards into the open ocean!

[rogerw]

Used this service in 1963. In those days you could stand up in the bows. It pitched on the way out, giving me a soaking at one stage as I wasn't watching out. On the way back it had a significant, albeit gentle, rolling motion.

[old original]

It was previously suggested that H&W were considering to build 3 new ships to run a competing service using the levelling up fund that the IOSSP declined, H&W now appear to be trying to take control of the IOSSP....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67518645

[GBM]

Didn't see that coming!
Not enough trade for two companies to run all year.
H&W seemed to offer the best option for all year round services.
The helicopter service from Penzance is nothing to do with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company either.

Will be interesting to see this play out.

[Bob_Blakey]

...H&W seemed to offer the best option for all year round services. ...

The Harland & Wolff 'brand' is apparently now owned by a company called InfraStrata who run a number of small ship building and repair yards in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) (including Appledore in North Devon).

The only late autumn>winter>early spring public transport services are the separate Penzance<>IOS helicopter service (£150 one way) and the IOS Skybus (£130 one way) from Land's End Airport. Given the weather during this part of the year I would have grave doubts that anybody could run a reliable year-round maritime service. InfraStrata have absolutely no history of providing public transport services so I would be very suspicious of their motives in this case. 

[GBM]

The only late autumn>winter>early spring public transport services are the separate Penzance<>IOS helicopter service (£150 one way) and the IOS Skybus (£130 one way) from Land's End Airport. Given the weather during this part of the year I would have grave doubts that anybody could run a reliable year-round maritime service.  

Prior to our current H&S^▸ (Health and Safety), the Scillonian ran regardless of the weather, and it was fairly common for them to have to either anchor off or hove to at either end awaiting weather abating.
Likewise the GryMaritha (the current winter service freight and 8 (or 12?) passengers.

If H&W can provide a good winter service (plus a good less weather dependent summer service), then well done that man.

[old original]

H&W no longer interested in taking over IOSSC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67785067

[GBM]

H&W no longer interested in taking over IOSSC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67785067

But they are still building their own ships to run in opposition (earlier than the Steamship ones)

[bradshaw]

H & W proposing new ferry for next year. I wonder if the ISSC will regret their decision regarding talks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67800783

A new ferry is set to take passengers between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in faster journey times from next summer, its operator says.
Shipbuilder Harland and Wolff (H&W) has chartered a ship it says will come into service from May, with 90-minute trips.
Last month H&W made an approach to buy the existing operators, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC), but was "unequivocally rejected".
The ISSC ferry, the Scillonian III, is scheduled to sail from March.
H&W is calling its new arm Scilly Ferries, and said the new vessel was a catamaran that would take up to 400 passengers between Penzance and St Mary's in about one hour and 30 minutes.

[old original]

H & W proposing new ferry for next year. I wonder if the ISSC will regret their decision regarding takks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67800783

A new ferry is set to take passengers between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in faster journey times from next summer, its operator says.
Shipbuilder Harland and Wolff (H&W) has chartered a ship it says will come into service from May, with 90-minute trips.
Last month H&W made an approach to buy the existing operators, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC), but was "unequivocally rejected".
The ISSC ferry, the Scillonian III, is scheduled to sail from March.
H&W is calling its new arm Scilly Ferries, and said the new vessel was a catamaran that would take up to 400 passengers between Penzance and St Mary's in about one hour and 30 minutes.

game on

[bradshaw]

The plot thickens….

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67806640

Urgent food deliveries have been set up for the Isles of Scilly in time for Christmas after a freight ship carrying chilled foods broke down.
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC) said the Gry Maritha returned to Penzance shortly after departure.
It said the repair was not likely to be completed until Boxing Day at the earliest.
The firm apologised for the disruption, as rival firm Harland and Wolff (H&W) stepped in to make the delivery.
H&W said it had set up a free freight service to St Mary's on Saturday.

John Wood, H&W's chief executive, said on Facebook the service was "for any emergency items and food required for Christmas".
He said only one run was possible, because of the forecasted weather conditions.
He added: "It is an unfortunate situation and difficult to deal with at this late stage with everyone shutting down for Christmas, but we are looking at all options."
ISSC said in a travel update it was "exploring all options" for the transportation of urgent chilled food to the Scilly Isles.
"Please accept our apologies for the obvious inconvenience that this has caused, and be assured we are doing all that we can to minimise further disruption to the freight service," it said. 

[Mark A]

Hmm. It'll be a while since many people on Scilly have had to resort to sea-beef.

Mark