There will be a fresh dimension for sea travel to the Isles of Scilly when Scilly Ferries, set up by Harland and Wolff, begin twice daily return trips in May using an Austal-built catamaran as Scilly Express.
After their surprise bid to buy the Isles of Scilly Steamship Co failed, Harland and Wolff are chartering a 400-passenger fast ferry with substantial freight areas to start their own competing passenger service between Penzance and Scillies capital St Mary’s in May. The twice-daily 90-minute crossings each way are to be marketed as Scilly Express. The service will use a catamaran built by Austal in Vietnam, which started life operating as Atlantic Wolf and will run as Scilly Express. She has seating areas over three different decks for two return trips a day.
Harland and Wolff chief executive John Wood said: ‘After viewing 16 different vessels, we have secured a fast ferry in time for the summer. She will make her way to the UK, first stopping at our Belfast yard for repainting.