Isles of Scilly sea ferry and air services - merged posts

[whole diary]

[GBM]

A local inter-island launch, Lyonesse Lady will make a return trip today, already a third of the way to Penzance, but she's not capable of speed! 8 knots.

[Mark A]

And there she is: a shipping map.

Mark

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-5.7/centery:50.0/zoom:10

[GBM]

And there she is: a shipping map.

Mark

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-5.7/centery:50.0/zoom:10

"Oh no she's not!" (panto season).
As at time of writing, she's alongside in Penzance.

[LiskeardRich]

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

Aremiti 5 appears to be the vessel in question. Recently advertised for sale, and is an Austal 56m meeting all of the other specification mentioned

[Mark A]

And there she is: a shipping map.

Mark

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-5.7/centery:50.0/zoom:10

"Oh no she's not!" (panto season).
As at time of writing, she's alongside in Penzance.

And now returned to Scilly.

Mark

[old original]

...Scilly Ferries  now booking...

https://scillyferries.co.uk/

unfortunately doesn't appear to be any cheaper than the IOS Steamship company

[ChrisB]

It seems to be a Catamaran for people only, no vehicles.
Two return trips a day most days, 90 mins is quicker than the Steamship. £48.75 return is very reasonable.

[grahame]

It seems to be a Catamaran for people only, no vehicles.
Two return trips a day most days, 90 mins is quicker than the Steamship. £48.75 return is very reasonable.

I took a look and was struck by how much the service varies from one day to another - it seems to lack pattern and I wonder if that's tidal, what it does for regular traffic that might like consistency, or have I totally missed something?   A sample month:





The white on yellow looks good on the pictures of the cat - I found it hard in their timetable and I have colour adjusted the screen captures here to make it (for me at least) more readable. Again, others may find the originals easier on the eye ... I appreciate I am reading / posting in the middle of the night.

[GBM]

The timetable colouring doesn't look good for me, not easy to read.
A 'day out' during the week gives very little time ashore on most runs.
With the current Scillonian (III), a Saturday run ashore have more time there compared with this proposed IoS ferry service.
Without checking, I wonder if the different times are tidal related.
The 90 minute crossing will be a boon to provide two trips a day.
Also noting an intermittent Sunday service (double in the early months).
Prior to this there has never been a Sunday service - not even flights.
Revolutionary!

[GBM]

The current Steamship Company do reduced fares for 'mainlanders' for a day out; both ways by ship; out by ship and return by flight (also v.v).
Wonder if the new company will compete with special reduced fares to compete.
The independent helicopter company also does occasional special reduced day trips, albeit comparable prices to Skybus (the Steamship arm).

[Mark A]

I took a look and was struck by how much the service varies from one day to another - it seems to lack pattern and I wonder if that's tidal, what it does for regular traffic that might like consistency, or have I totally missed something?   

Visiting Scilly back in the day, the helicopter service and various flights were already a thing, but onward travel and especially travel to and from the off-islands was very much geared to the arrival/departure of the Scillonian which did keep things reasonably simple and straightforward for through travellers. It would be interesting to know how things work now.

Mark

[ChrisB]

From ITV

A new ferry service for the Isles of Scilly has delayed its launch date for a second time, as it undergoes final regulatory approvals.

Scilly Ferries had started taking bookings from the beginning of May to coincide with the World Pilot Gigs Championships and has been providing customers with alternative crossings.

The Atlantic Wolff ferry is currently on the water in Portsmouth where, after rebranding, has been through a series of tests but it is unlikely to be operational until early to mid July.

In a statement to customers Harland and Wolff CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) John Wood said "We know that this is disappointing, but we will do our utmost to transfer your bookings under the same terms where at all."

The company which is the rival of the 104-year-old Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (IOSSC) has been a topic of conversation for many months. Opinions have been divided on how successful it will be.

Janice Nightingale from the Bourdeaux shop said "it's certainly shaken things up a bit.

"You always think that it's good to have a bit of competition so and it gives you choices.

"I don't know that there's going to be enough business or sufficient business to keep both of them going."

As well as moving people on and off the islands, the ferries are vital for getting freight to the Isles of Scilly.

Phil Moon, managing director of the restaurant and cafe On the Quay, says the bulk of their supplies come from the mainland three times a week.

"With the competition that's coming in, and the differences that that might do, it's interesting, but also very worrying, because we just don't know what the future holds."

"There's positives and negatives. Obviously we need a service full stop. If there's no service here, there's no Isles of Scilly in my eyes."

Meanwhile the long-serving ferry, 47-year-old Scillonian 3, is on its way out with the new Mark 4 vessel is starting to be built in Vietnam at the end of June. The IOSSC expects it to be in action by 2026.
It has not all been smooth sailing for the long standing Steamship Company with some controversy over the changes in finances with it being privately funded instead of receiving £48 million pounds of levelling up money.
Stuart Reid, chief pperations denied there was any trust issues with islanders saying: "Everything we do is around ensuring that there's maximum benefit for both the community and the company at the same time.

"That goes with the new vessel project as well. We did a huge amount of consultation during the design process.

"We've been out several times to the islands, right the way through that four year project, which allowed the community to feed back into those plans, but will the two services."

Cllr Steve Simms, the Isles of Scilly lead for transport, has been closed following the actions of each company.

Cllr Simms said: "It's like a Greek tragedy...leaving the islands in a state of flux.

"I do not know what the travel situation will be here in 12 months because of what's happening.

"And also, on the other side in Whitehall, we see absolute chaos and we can't move on until we get another government."

A couple of photos of the new ferry in the article.

[GBM]

https://scillyferries.co.uk/
20 June   
Atlantic Wolff Update
The vessel has now re entered the water in Portsmouth and undergoing final works, the project has indeed been challenging in many ways to ensure the vessel is in a material condition that we are comfortable with.  We are now very close to being operationally ready, with our gangways having been load tested and our additional structure for the top deck loading will be fitted next week.

 

The regulatory authorities have been back onboard the vessel this week where they have witnessed the emergency deployment of the life raft system and the crew have demonstrated the safe evacuation of passengers.  We are in the final stages of flagging the vessel into the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Ship Register and we look forward to seeing the red ensign flying proudly on the back of the vessel shortly.

 

Whilst we are not yet ready to accept passengers, we do believe by early / mid July we will be in a position to do so.
snip........

[Mark A]

The Portsmouth weather horked their painting schedule. Surprising it didn't fit inside a shed, mind.

Like the way they've styled it to blend in to the Scilly landscape.

Does anyone know the history of how the ferries have been accommodated in Penzance harbour? Wondering where the new one will berth.

Also, 'Scilly Ferries'. Wasn't there a time when the islanders themselves would use 'Scilly' 'The Isles of Scilly', but leave the phrase 'The Scilly Isles' to the visitors?

Mark

[GBM]

It will be interesting to see how both ferries can load and discharge when in the harbour.
Freight even more so.