New vessels update | September 2026
As Scillonian IV moves closer to entering service in March 2027, this update brings you the latest build and commissioning updates, a look inside the vessel as her passenger spaces take shape, and an overview of the key milestones ahead.
We also share the latest news from the programme, alongside an update on Menawethan’s first weeks in operation and how the vessel continues to be refined and improved as operational experience grows.
Scillonian IV build update
Scillonian IV is now entering the final stages of Phase Two of her build, with technical acceptance the next major milestone before she moves into Phase Three and begins her journey towards Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.
Passenger areas taking shape
Scillonian IV’s passenger spaces are really starting to come to life. With inspections of the lounges and internal areas now complete, we’re getting a much clearer picture of what the onboard experience will look and feel like for our passengers.
From the finish and design details to the spacious passenger areas, the vessel is beginning to take shape ahead of her arrival in the Isles of Scilly. The overall impression is very positive, and we’re excited to see these spaces come together before welcoming passengers on board in 2027.
Behind the scenes
While the passenger areas are taking shape, work is continuing across the rest of the vessel, including the technical spaces and cabins.
These areas are now going through their final inspections, covering the equipment and systems that support the operation of the vessel, as well as the spaces where our crew will live and work. The inspections are helping to identify any areas that need further attention before the vessel progresses through final acceptance.
Testing the systems that keep Scillonian IV running
Work is continuing to commission and test Scillonian IV’s Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) – the vessel’s central digital control system.
The IPMS brings together information from many of the ship’s key systems, enabling the crew to monitor and control systems, including electrical power management, main and auxiliary propulsion plant, bilge, ballast, fuel, sewage, tank level gauging, and ventilation, as well as alarms and safety systems. Testing these functions in different operating conditions is an important part of ensuring the systems the crew will rely on every day perform as intended.
Cetasol commissioning continues
Scillonian IV will also feature Cetasol, an AI-powered maritime analytics system designed to help improve efficiency and optimise vessel performance.
Commissioning work is continuing, with the system being tested and verified as part of the wider programme of trials. Once in operation, it will analyse data from the vessel to help identify opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and support more efficient operation.
What’s next?
The focus now is on completing inspections, testing and verification across the vessel, alongside preparations for her future operation. The next major milestone is technical acceptance in October 2026, followed by her planned departure from Vietnam.
Once in the UK, the focus will turn to crew training and familiarisation ahead of her planned entry into service in March 2027.
Our project team in Vietnam
Chris Lingham and Brian O’Reilly, who form our vessel project team based in Vietnam, continue to oversee the final stages of Scillonian IV’s construction on a daily basis.
Their work includes overseeing the commissioning of key machinery, attending scheduled inspections and monitoring the completion of the vessel’s indoor and outdoor passenger lounges, café areas and other facilities. They are also working closely with the shipyard to ensure that outstanding modifications and items identified during the build are completed before the vessel departs Vietnam.
Chris and Brian continue to perform a critical role in representing the Steamship Group’s interests and ensuring that the vessel is completed in accordance with the agreed specification.
An engineer’s first impression of Scillonian IV
As Scillonian IV moves ever closer to entering service, members of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group team recently travelled to Vietnam to witness the vessel’s progress first-hand during sea trials. Among them was second engineer Jono Jackman, who joined technical superintendent Luke Parnell and Scillonian III master Joe Whetton to experience the new ship in action and begin familiarising himself with the vessel that will soon serve the islands.
Reflecting on the visit, Jono described being immediately struck by Scillonian IV’s size, modern design and impressive interior spaces. He was particularly impressed by the ship’s advanced technology, hybrid propulsion system and stabilisers, which are expected to deliver a smoother and more comfortable journey for passengers.
For Jono, seeing the vessel up close reinforced just how significant this milestone is, not only for the company but also for the engineers and crew preparing to bring the long-awaited new ship into service.
Read Jono’s full account of his first impressions of Scillonian IV, including insights from sea trials and behind-the-scenes preparations.
Scillonian IV on track for March 2027
Work on Scillonian IV is progressing well and remains on track to enter service in March 2027. As we reach the final stages of the project attention is now focused on commissioning, sea trials and preparations for delivery.
Representatives from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will attend the shipyard in late September to carry out their final inspection of the vessel in Vietnam.
The MCA has been involved throughout the project, from the vessel’s early design stages through to the approval of drawings and a series of inspections during construction. This final inspection is another important milestone as the vessel moves closer to technical acceptance and departure.
Stuart Reid and other members of the Steamship Group’s vessel project team will travel to Vietnam on 5th October to join Chris and Brian for the technical acceptance process.
Technical acceptance is an important contractual milestone. It confirms whether the vessel has been completed in accordance with the agreed specification and formally records any remaining items or minor non-conformities that require completion.
Chris and Brian’s continuous presence at the shipyard means that potential issues are being identified and addressed throughout the build, helping to reduce the number of outstanding items ahead of technical acceptance.
Piriou’s specialist delivery crew will arrive at the shipyard in late October to begin familiarisation with Scillonian IV and its systems ahead of the vessel’s departure from Vietnam.
The next major milestone will be at the end of October, when Scillonian IV is expected to leave Ho Chi Minh City for the next stage of her journey – a sailing of around 60 days via the Cape of Good Hope to Piriou’s shipyard in Concarneau, France.
Scillonian IV is expected to arrive at Piriou’s shipyard in Brittany around New Year’s Day where she will be met by members of our technical team and crew. Members of our crew will undertake onboard training and familiarisation. At the same time, our technical team will work with Piriou to inspect the vessel following the delivery voyage and address any technical matters that may have arisen during the passage.
While the vessel is in France, we will also complete a demonstration of the Marine Evacuation System to the MCA. The system provides a rapid means of evacuation using an inflatable chute to transfer passengers safely from the vessel into a pre-attached life raft. These systems are widely used on modern passenger vessels.
Following the completion of the work and training in France, Scillonian IV is expected to sail to Penzance and arrive in the middle of January.
Final delivery formalities and surveys will then be completed. The vessel will subsequently sail to the Isles of Scilly as part of a wider programme of crew familiarisation, harbour trials and operational preparations ahead of entering service.
After years of planning, design and construction, Scillonian IV remains on course to begin serving the Isles of Scilly in March 2027, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for passenger travel between the mainland and the islands.
Vibration Trials
Following these observations, Piriou made adjustments to the propeller configuration before undertaking a further series of sea trials on 27 and 28 August. These trials were used to gather detailed vibration measurements at different speeds and in different areas of the vessel.
The Steamship Group also appointed Houlder, a leading independent marine engineering and naval architecture consultancy, to represent our interests, undertake its own measurements and independently assess the results.
The detailed technical findings remain under review and will be shared when that process has been completed. Importantly, there is currently nothing arising from this work which causes us to expect a delay to Scillonian IV’s planned departure from Vietnam or her subsequent arrival in the UK.
Scillonian IV’s operating schedule
Safety will remain our overriding priority as we introduce the vessel into service. During the initial operating period, we will therefore apply appropriate safety and operating margins while our crews build experience and familiarity with the vessel. This will include allowing greater under-keel clearance than is currently used for Scillonian III.
The additional margins applied during the introductory period mean that some departure times will vary from the traditional 9.15am and 4.30pm schedule. As the vessel becomes fully integrated into the fleet and our crews gain further operational experience, we expect to achieve greater standardisation of departure times.
We will shortly begin loading Scillonian IV’s sailing schedule into our reservation system. Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for further updates and promotional activity as we prepare to release the new schedule and open bookings.
The construction and introduction of a new passenger vessel is a significant and complex undertaking. Good progress continues to be made, and we look forward to keeping the community updated as Scillonian IV completes her remaining milestones and begins her journey home.
Inside Scillonian IV
The designs for Scillonian IV have given us a glimpse of what’s to come. Now, those images are becoming reality.
See how Scillonian IV compares to Scillonian III as we explore the spaces, finishes and details that are beginning to bring the passenger experience to life.
Passenger spaces have been reimagined with greater comfort, accessibility and sea views.
From cosy lounges to bright contemporary spaces, the onboard café has evolved to offer even greater comfort while retaining its welcoming atmosphere.
Scillonian III’s wheelhouse has commanded countless crossings between the mainland and the Isles of Scilly. Scillonian IV marks the next chapter, with a modern wheelhouse designed around today’s crew, technology and operational needs.
Photographs taken onboard Scillonian IV this summer by Second Engineer Jono Jackman show the passenger areas taking shape, offering a first glimpse of the CGI designs becoming a reality.
As work continues, we’ll be sharing more glimpses inside Scillonian IV as the vessel takes shape.
Menawethan’s first weeks in operation
Menawethan has now settled into the operation and is delivering the core purpose it was designed for – providing a modern, capable and improved freight service for the Isles of Scilly.
The increased capability, deck arrangement and onboard equipment are already giving us greater flexibility in how freight operations are managed.
As familiarity has grown, the crew is continued to develop the most effective ways of operating the vessel and its equipment within what is quite a unique operation.
With any new vessel, the first few weeks of operation have been a period of learning and refinement. Operating a vessel day-to-day inevitably identifies things which cannot be fully replicated during trials or commissioning.
We have been working through a number of adjustments and warranty items, while also fine-tuning some of the onboard systems and operating arrangements.
During this period, we have learned about how best to integrate Menawethan into the existing operation, particularly around freight handling, fuel management, maintenance and the practicalities of operating the service.
That operational experience is being captured and fed back into our procedures and planned maintenance arrangements, so the vessel and the operation continue to mature together. This feedback is also going across to the teams at the shipyard in Vietnam, to be incorporated into the Scillonian IV build project.
Working with Piriou
We continue to work closely with Piriou through the warranty and post-delivery period. There is regular communication between our teams, with issues logged, reviewed and progressed as part of the normal process following delivery of a new vessel.
Their team has continued to provide technical support as we identify items through real-world operation, including arranging attendance and working with equipment manufacturers where required.
Marine superintendent for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, Tom Weise, said: “It is an ongoing collaborative process. Our crews and technical team are building detailed operational knowledge of Menawethan, while Piriou continues to support us in resolving and refining items identified since delivery.
“We’re pleased that Menawethan is doing what we brought her into the fleet to do, while both the vessel and our operation continue to bed in. Every week of operation gives us greater knowledge and allows us to continue improving how we use and maintain it.”
A look inside Menawethan
Menawethan has been designed to support the vital year-round freight service to the Isles of Scilly. Modern, practical and thoughtfully laid out, the vessel is fitted with equipment and systems that align with those our crews are trained to use.
There are also significant improvements in comfort and accessibility on board. Every crew cabin now includes an en suite, while movement around the vessel no longer relies on vertical ladders, making access easier and safer.
Take a look inside Menawethan and see the spaces and features that help keep supplies, freight and passengers moving between the mainland and the islands.
Hold
Menawethan can carry an additional 50 tonnes of cargo, compared to Gry Maritha, our previous freight vessel.
The refrigerated rooms are temperature controlled spaces that allow chilled and frozen goods to be transported safely.
The hold space has been designed for flexibility and can accommodate a range of freight from palletised goods to bulky loads.
The enlarged pallet lift allows cargo to move both on and off the vessel more efficiently, reducing manual handling.
Engine room
The heart of Menawethan. This is where the main engines and supporting machinery that power the ship and her onboard systems are found. It’s a warm, noisy and busy environment that requires constant monitoring and skilled maintenance to keep the vessel operating safely.
The wheelhouse
The wheelhouse, or the bridge, is the control centre of Menawethan. This is where the ship is navigated, monitored and manoeuvred, using a combination of modern electronic systems and traditional seamanship. The crew benefits from excellent visibility ahead and behind, which is vital when working close to quaysides or handling freight in challenging weather.
Passenger lounge
Menawethan can carry up to 12 passengers, providing a year-round passenger and freight sea link. In comparison, Gry Maritha could only carry five passengers.
Crew mess
The crew mess is the shared living space where crew eat, rest and socialise during breaks. Life at sea often means late finishes and early starts, so this room plays an important role in maintaining morale.
Crew cabin
These private spaces are compact yet comfortable, providing a bed, storage and desk area. For crew spending days or weeks on duty, this cabin becomes both a bedroom and a personal retreat. Menawethan has seven cabins on board.