The seasonal Isles of Scilly Steamship ferry service has ended for the year as veteran Scillonian III sailed its last round-trip of Penzance Harbour-Hugh Town, St Mary's, the largest isle of the archipelago off Cornwall, England, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The much-loved Scillonian III with a 485 passenger capacity, had opened the season in April, throughout the summer months and into autumn, however Storm Ciaran led to an abrupt end of the season by the 1977 built passenger and cargo-ship. The last sailing according to the operator’s social media, took place on 31 October, as all the following scheduled sailings were cancelled, day after day given the adverse weather persisted, including on the season’s intended final day, 5 November.

Afloat consulted the operator’s website for next year’s seasonal service, which starts on 18 March. In the meantime, the Steamship continue to operate the year-round essential freight-service by Gry Maritha in addition to passenger ‘Skybus’ services to and from the mainland.

As Afloat previously reported, the Scilly Steamship Group have chosen a French shipbuilder in a £42m contract from private funding for three new vessels to maintain lifeline links to the Isles of Scilly. The newbuilds comprise of a 600 passenger ferry to be named Scillonian IV, a cargo ship and an inter-island freight catamaran which are all scheduled to be in service by March 2026.

The Steamship Group previously held community engagement events on St. Mary’s, the largest of the five inhabited Isles of Scilly, regarding the vessel replacement programme, and they will continue to be held in the outlying islands this month. Members of the Steamship Group will be host along with the new vessels project team which have invited and encouraged island communities to attend.

First of the public meetings resumed yesterday, having begun on Bryher, at the island’s community centre and forthcoming engagement events will be held on the other outlying islands of St Martin’s, St Agnes and Tresco.

With the season of Scillonian III’s sailings concluded, the 1,255 gross tonnage ferry entered the more sheltered inner harbour of Penzance for the winter layover, however it will be by no means a quiet period for the ship’s crew and maintenance team. As the vessel is to undergone routine period of maintenance in preparation for getting all 'ship-shape' in advance of welcoming passengers and carrying freight in Spring, 2024.

As Afloat previously reported, Harland & Wolff Group propose to build new vessels and operate to Scilly, using a passenger ferry, cargo-ship and fast-ferry on the same route between Penzance and St. Mary's. The announcement comes after three years of developing specific designs and a detailed costing model for the newbuilds.

The shipyard group in October held a second series of public consultations on Scilly regarding the company’s proposal to build and operate year-round passenger and freight services connecting Cornwall and the isles.

Harland & Wolff's proposal would put it in direct competition with the established Isles of Scilly Steamship Company which celebrated its centenary in 2020.