The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group has appointed specialist ship designer BMT to advise on new vessel designs as it looks to replace vessels providing passenger and freight services to the islands.
The Steamship Group wants to replace its marine assets including the purpose-built Scillonian III passenger ferry, which entered service in 1977 and was refitted in 2013, and its freight ship the Gry Maritha, built in 1981.
BMT has pioneered the design and development of purpose-built passenger ferries since the early 1980s and has a growing portfolio of proven vessel designs which include commercial ships, offshore energy support vessels and high performance naval craft.
BMT will work closely with the Steamship Group and the islands’ community through public consultation on new custom designs.
Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said: “BMT have world-class naval architecture and engineering experience and we’re delighted to have them on board as we start to shape our asset replacement programme to meet the needs of the islands’ community and visitors to Scilly.
“We are consulting islanders and key stakeholders about what sort of marine service they would like to see in the future, and BMT are working with us on translating this into concept designs. We will be giving an update on progress at our AGM in October.”
Noel Tomlinson, business development director for specialised ship design at BMT, said: “Our highly-skilled team at BMT are thrilled to be working with the Steamship Group on greener, more efficient vessel designs.
“Our proven portfolio of passenger and freight ferry designs ensures that we are best placed to support lifeline ferry operators such as the Steamship Group.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: @WTelfordHerald - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com - Facebook: www.facebook.com/william.telford.5473
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click here.
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page here
“The designs will maximise passenger and crew comfort, will be capable of operating in the challenging conditions of the Atlantic ocean route, whilst meeting all existing and known future regulatory requirements. In addition, the new designs will be optimised to meet the unique requirements of the UK mainland and island ports.”
The Steamship Group has set up a Marine Asset Replacement Committee chaired by non-executive director Kevin George, who is current group chairman of Red Funnel Group.
The Isles of Scilly are 28 miles off the South West coast of Cornwall. The vast majority of island supplies and half of all visitors, which total more than 200,000 a year, arrive by sea, with the rest coming by air.
Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Ltd was formed in March 1920 and the first Scillonian ship began regular trips to the Isles of Scilly in February 1926.
Since then the company has continually operated the shipping service which is a life line for the Isles of Scilly, and also operates the Skybus fixed wing service to and from the islands.
