Ceremony marks 'birth' of Scilly vessels

Dignitaries attended a ceremony at Piriou's shipyard in Vietnam

An event to mark the "birthdate" of two ships set to be used for the Penzance to Isles of Scilly crossings has been held.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) performed a keel-laying ceremony at French boatbuilder Piriou's shipyard in Vietnam to mark the building of the Scillonian IV and the cargo vessel Menawethan.

The keel-laying is considered by people in the boat-building industry as the official birth of a vessel and was a "significant milestone" in the process, ISSG said.

Both vessels are set to be brought into service for the crossing in 2026.

Officials from Britain, France and Vietnam attended the ceremony last week, including British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew.

'Improve passenger experience'

ISSG said the Scillonian IV would have space for 600 passengers, which was 24% more than her predecessor, and have stabilisation technology to make journeys more comfortable for passengers.

The Menawethan will replace the Gry Maritha and has been named after one of the 12 uninhabited eastern isles which are part of the Isles of Scilly.

Judith Piper, ISSG's chief financial officer, said: "Our new vessels have been specifically designed to serve the route between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

"They will improve passenger experience and significantly increase capacity and reliability."