Harland & Wolff Group Opts Not to Pursue Bid for Isles of Scilly Ferry

22nd December 2023

Harland & Wolff, the Belfast based shipyard group, chooses not to increase its bid to buy Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which operates Scillonian III to the archipelago off Cornwall on a seasonal basis along with a year-round freight run between Penzance-St. Mary’s, Scilly. The Scillonian III was built in 1977 in neighbouring Devon, at Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. In recent years AFLOAT adds, the yard was acquired by the Harland & Wolff Group. Credit: IslesofScillyTravel-facebook

Shipyard firm Harland & Wolff based in Belfast has decided not to make a formal bid to buy the passenger ferry and freight-company, which operates to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall.

In an initial approach by H&W to acquire the 103 year old Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Limited (ISSCL) which serves the archipelago of south-west England, this was “unequivocally rejected” last month.

The Alternative Investment Market (AIM)-listed H&W said it would mull over its options and,under takeover rules, this would take up to 21 December to firm up a bid for the transport business which includes inter-island services.

In a statement issued from the board of Harland & Wolff Group Holdings, it has concluded not to pursue this matter “and accordingly does not intend to make a firm offer for ISSCL”.

To read more of the statement, The Irish News reports of the development.

Published in Shipyards

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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