Harland & Wolff has revealed plans to construct and manage two ferries on the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route and one inter-island vessel, aiming to commence operations by spring 2025.
The company has spent the last three years perfecting the design and cost models for these vessels and has now formally decided to apply for levelling-up funding from the UK government.
They will be making this application in collaboration with approved partners, including local councils. The programme would require Harland & Wolff to secure a license to operate ferries on the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route.
“£48m in levelling-up funding has already been allocated by the UK government for the purposes of building new vessels on the route and in line with its National Shipbuilding Strategy, requires a high level of local content in exchange for taxpayer funding,” the press release stated. Harland & Wolff previously built the Scillonian III, the ferry currently serving this route, known for its technical and operational robustness.
The company proposes to operate the ferries for an initial period of five years. They have an option for an additional five years of operation if they meet performance targets set by the UK government.
Acknowledging the crucial role these ferries play for the Isles of Scilly residents and the tourism industry, the company emphasized the importance of building vessels that are technically suited for the challenging route conditions, especially during winter.
“Given the remoteness of the Isles of Scilly and the reliance that the islanders place on these ferries as essential transport links on a day-to-day basis, it is imperative that these ferries are technically suitable for the route and ensure seamless operation through the harsher winter months,” said the company.
John Wood, Group Chief Executive Officer of Harland & Wolff, commented:
“We have a large number of colleagues in Appledore and across the group who are vastly experienced in the build and operation of passenger vessels. In my view, it is clear that, given the current cost of capital, access to and acceptance of levelling up funding will provide a very cost competitive model to operate either alongside the incumbents or on a stand-alone basis. This is a fantastic opportunity and we believe competition on this route is the right thing to ensure value for money for the residents and tourists of the islands.”
Wonder if H & W would be interested in the design, build and operation of ferries slightly further north of the Scillies where weather conditions can be similarly challenging?
Good news. Moving forward in national ship building might not be fantasy.
Yes deffo good news. H&W and Appledore make a good combination. I can see in 5 years or so H&W will be building the next class of OPVs or maybe even frigates.
Agreed David. I suggest some patrol stroke corvette classes to protect our littoral assets and infrastructure and some further afield such as fishing resources around the Falklands would be useful job creation. Jim’s thoughts on fleet support and expeditionary platforms should also be firm objectives. If we get out of the current jam we are in, then that would be more luck than prudent judgement. Today’s shower are the weakest political class in my long life.
I believe the B1’s will need replacing in the not too distant future, it would be nice for a new class of OPV’s to take over from the B2’s, and rotate the B2’s back to take over the B1’s and just keep that pattern up.
Hi Dern, B1’s will be sold or scrapped, T-31’s will take over the fwd deployments and B2’s will come back to UK plus Falklands Guard ship, doesn’t matter that having T-31 and B2 (or replacement OPV) fed deployed would be a sensible option
They shouldn’t though, we should get a fresh batch of OPV’s, built in a UK shipyard to replace them so that we keep the T-31’s freed up.
Otherwise it’s still a cut.
I agree but the B2’s were only a political pawn to appease Navy/SNP and others and keep Govan working, we should have BAE building high end warships AAW & ASW, babcock building Gp /OPv’s then use H&W /Appledore to build large LHD, Replenishment ships. CL / Falmouth doing refits with steady drumbeat to keep them working. If we (they) build good ships to high std other nations will either order new or be interested in taking them 2nd hand. just my opinion.
Appledore built the current Scillonian, and in recent times have completed a class of three largish OPV’s for the Irish Navy, quite impressive ships.
It’s so important to get H&W back in the ship building game, I’m still secretly hoping that after they and Navantia finish the FSSS build we can get a couple of Canberra class LHD’s built in Belfast to replace the Albion’s then 4 more MRSS.
Then all we need is to resume SSK production at Cammel Laird and Britain can go back to being a true naval super power.
One can dream about fantasy fleets 😀
I would put everything on the sea. Great Britain & Ireland rose in the world as a great maritime power. Our geographic advantage is considerably more than most seemingly realise.
agree.
Agree.
Agree, we have always been too small to field a large standing army but our geography as a large island with multiple industrial cities located along multiple coasts makes us an ideal naval power. If you look at what it would cost for the UK to go up to a truly world class fleet with 30+ surface combatants 5 carrier/ LHDs and 20 + submarines it would not take that much more funding especially if we continue to promote high levels of automation in the next generations of vessels. It’s basically the navy we had 1989 + the two Queen… Read more »
Barry, whilst l completely agree with you, might I add RAF air power into the equation? Especially maritime strike and surveillance assets.
Why does the RAF have to control maritime strike and surveillance? Use the FAA for that role.
A good questIon Chris. Being ex Air Force, I have a terrible bias!
Clearly some assets – technical support, supply, training – are firmly on dry land. National air policing and defence also but projecting force away from these islands seems to me to be sea based. It is where we could have a cutting edge advantage.
totally agree Barry – good point!
I’d like to see a UK design. The Canberra’s are now an ageing design with some reliability problems.
True, but it’s also an F35B capable international design that was built in Spain for less than $300 million and the owners of the design are already building three ships in the UK on a fixed contract. If you could knock two updated Canberra’s at a low price on to the same consortium building FSS the we should seriously consider it.
What a great way forward
And makes the journey to the islands even better.
A long term view I feel is always better
But the money’s need to be secured and promised, as expectations and setting them verses reality normally are wide apart
Very interesting bit of vertical integration could be an interesting business model….builder..owner..operator…good on HW to have a bit of vision to take full advantage of the levelling up fund.
As long as they spend the money in the right areas (ops not admin) and their builds work. It should be a good model, Other than staff and suppliers, all the funds should stay in the business. Hopefully it’ll give them regular cash flow to improve facilities too.
Great looking vessels and a price that is affordable. Pity Scotland has not got the true business control on their really poor services to the Isles. Could do with a similar set up there and let those know what they are doing sort it. H&W can bring back what we have had missing for so so long.
Hartland woolf never built the scillonian 111 Appledore Shipbuilders did in 1977 , there is hardly any there now that worked on her more H&W nonsense
Excellent. Get it done. Where does the treasury need to sign for these ships to get built?
H&W ought to get the order I believe there’s no one else in for it .
What will be the ASW fit and SAM fit be? If they have a front opening vehicle door even the RM bootnecks can use them for storming a beach. With careful design there might even be enough room for a flight deck for a Merlin or F35.
Defence cuts… just looking for a multi-role fit and purpose for these vessels.
Why don’t we name them in Roman? “Romani ite domum”
Well that’s a turn up for the books, levelling up money being used to level up in the South West and boost the Rejuvenated U.K. National Shipbuilding Strategy to boot. If this happens and Appledore can deliver this on time, fit for purpose and on budget (ish), it bodes well for the future of small / medium shipbuilding in the U.K. We tend to forget that the Navy isn’t just about the frontline warships, but the smaller ones that perform vital work. In the next few years we will be tendering for new MROSS & MHC vessels and yes they… Read more »
I remember going to H&W for repairs on one of the ferries I worked on I believe it’s in Poland🤣 well most of the workers were Polish and the safety cards were all in English and Polish.
The current Scillonian ship that serves between Penzance and St.Mary’s has been in service for around 40 years and was built in Appledore.
It the one ship that I’ve been on that I was sick as a dog. This is because it’s a flat bottomed ship, so also skids over waves. The flat bottom is necessary for the ship to get over a sand bar just before St.Mary’s. Hopefully the next ship will have active stabilization. Where the trip between the Mainland and Islsnds will be more enjoyable.
“Harland & Wolff previously built the Scillonian III, the ferry currently serving this route, known for its technical and operational robustness”.
What the Scillonian 111 is chiefly known for among its passengers is its ability to make nearly everyone abord seasick. It isn’t nicknamed The Grim Reaper for nothing.