A further delay has beset the new UK domestic operator, Scilly Ferries, which originally was to have begun service in May between Penzance, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly but has now been postponed for a week, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The new company, part of the Harland & Wolff Group, which last week repositioned the fast-craft Atlantic Wolff from Portsmouth to Newlyn and Penzance, where berthing trials took place and Hugh Town, St. Mary’s were completed ahead of today's (23 July) planned debut.
However, in a statement issued at the weekend, Scilly Ferries said due to unforeseen circumstances, it was forced to delay operations, and is now looking at a start date of one week later, on Tuesday, July 30th.
The 400 passenger-only aluminium craft Atlantic Wolff, which was to start on the Cornwall-Scilly service, providing up to two return crossings throughout the main tourist season, will, when it enters service, be in direct competition with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which was established in 1920.
In May, the Steamship Company celebrated its five millionth passenger on board the conventional passenger/cargo ship Scillonian III, built in 1977 but is to be replaced by a newbuild in 2026 along with a cargo ship and an inter-island freight catamaran.
The statement from Scilly Ferries also apologized to its booked customers and for the inconvenience caused but wanted to let them know as soon as possible to enable them to make alternative arrangements.
Afloat noted that Scilly Ferries does operate a limited service using a much smaller RIB-based craft, the Atlantic Express, which, according to their social media posting yesterday, will be doing trips but starting from the St. Mary's, the largest of the five inhabited isles.
The trips are scheduled to take place starting tomorrow, Wednesday, 24th, Friday, 26th, and Saturday, 27th and weather permitting. Sailing times from St Mary's start at 9.30am and return from the mainland, with a departure from Penzance at 12pm.
An email to reserve a seat is available on their social media.