The 75-metre combined passenger and cargo vessel embarked on the two-month voyage, travelling from Ho Chi Minh City via the Cape of Good Hope, the same route taken by freight vessel MENAWETHAN earlier this year.

SCILLONIAN IV, which has the capacity to carry 600 passengers, will replace SCILLONIAN III, heralding the start of a new era of travel to the Isles of Scilly.

Ian Howard, Chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, was in Vietnam for the occasion. He said:

“Watching SCILLONIAN IV leave Vietnam and begin her journey home was a hugely significant moment for everyone involved in bringing the vessel to life. Reaching this stage reflects the tremendous work, expertise and commitment of the teams who have overseen her construction and the many people who have contributed to the project. We’re now looking forward to welcoming her closer to home and beginning the next phase of preparations ahead of her entry into service in March.”

SCILLONIAN IV is crewed by a team from a specialist delivery company. The voyage will include several bunker stops before a final call at Piriou’s shipyard in Brittany, France, before it continues to Penzance.

The ship is expected to spend approximately three weeks in Brittany where a final survey will be carried out ahead of delivery. During this period, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s technical teams and several crew members will be on hand to continue preparations, begin familiarisation with the new vessel and support the final stages of the delivery process.

There will also be opportunities for additional crew members to join the ship for parts of the journey.
The Steamship Group’s GBP 40 million vessel replacement programme represents one of the most significant investments in the company’s history, reaffirming its commitment to supporting island communities through improved passenger and freight services.

Read also: SCILLONIAN IV takes to the water for the first time 

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