The vessel will replace SCILLONIAN III and is due to enter service in 2027, operating the route between Penzance and St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly.

SCILLONIAN IV departed the shipyard in Ho Chi Minh City, making her way down the Nhà Bè river into the South China Sea for sea trials off the coast of Vung Tau. She will spend the week conducting speed and operational trials, along with testing onboard machinery such as the deployment of anchors and safety boats. During the trials, the vessel's performance, manoeuvrability, propulsion and onboard systems are tested at sea to confirm they meet design specifications and international standards.

Scillonian Master Joe Whetton, Technical Superintendent Luke Parnell and Engineer Jonathan Jackman have joined the project team in Vietnam for the trials, together with the Piriou shipyard and classification society Lloyd's Register. The trials also mark the start of the crew familiarisation process.

SCILLONIAN IV measures 74.85 metres in length, with a beam of 12.80 metres, a draught of 3.00 metres and a tonnage of 2,200 GT. She will carry up to 600 passengers, with crew accommodation for up to 20, and is designed for 16 knots in a 2.5-metre sea state. The passenger capacity is a 24 per cent increase on current levels.

Design features include a hull vane, heat recovery and shaft generators for energy efficiency, and a hull form, fin stabilisers and hull vane intended to reduce roll and pitch. Emissions meet IMO Tier III, and the vessel has alternative fuel capability and an Energy Storage System. The specification also covers access for passengers with reduced mobility and additional cargo capacity.

Following completion of sea trials, SCILLONIAN IV will undergo final fit-out and certification before her delivery voyage to the UK ahead of entry into service.

Stuart Reid, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said the start of sea trials was a step towards bringing the vessel into service. He said sea trials provided the opportunity to test the vessel in real operating conditions before completion.

The vessel forms part of the group's GBP 40 million replacement programme. Together with the freight ship MENAWETHAN, which entered service this week, the two vessels represent a GBP 40 million investment in the islands' transport links.

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