Major milestone reached in the build of new ships for Scilly
A ceremony has marked the official ‘birth date’ for the two new ships which will serve the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG).
This milestone in the build process has been recognised for centuries as the official ‘birth’ of any new ship and is an important point in time for the Scillonian IV passenger ferry and the cargo vessel, Menawethan.
Invited guests attended Piriou’s shipyard in Vietnam on November 6 to officially mark the moment. British Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, attended the ceremony, along with British Consul General Alexandra Smith and her French Counterpart, Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser.
They were accompanied by senior management from both shipbuilder Piriou and ISSG. As part of the occasion, a coin was laid in the keel of the vessel, which is a shipbuilding tradition.
Ian Howard, chair of ISSG, said: “It was an honour to attend this special moment in the build of our two new vessels. I would like to extend my thanks to the entire team here at Piriou, who are providing the skills and technical expertise to build these new ships for the Isles of Scilly.
“I also want to express my gratitude to all our partners and stakeholders who have contributed to this project. Your support and enthusiasm have been essential in driving us forward.”
Judith Piper, CFO at ISSG, added: “Witnessing the work being carried out first-hand really brings to life the level of skill and precision that goes into building a modern-day vessel.
“Our new vessels have been specifically designed to serve the route between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly. They will improve passenger experience and significantly increase capacity and reliability.”
