Delivering for Scilly
to our new pilots
Skybus has recruited ahead of the busy summer season.
New vessels
Find out the latest updates on our new vessels replacement project Welcome
Skybus Engineering
Read about the changes to the Skybus Engineering team
Steamship
Delivering for Scilly
Welcome to the first issue of Delivering for Scilly magazine for 2025, filled with key updates from across the Group. It’s been a busy, eventful, and at times, challenging year so far, and we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued dedication. In this issue, we’ve included a roundup of important news and highlights you may have missed – a great opportunity to catch up on some of the key developments from earlier this year.
Learn about Factory Acceptance Tests taking place on machinery for our new vessels on page 7
Read about Skybus pilot Richard Castle’s secondment to the Caribbean from page 8
GPS tracking
We have installed GPS tracking devices into our 8ft blue shipping containers, enabling us to locate them at any time. Following a successful trial, the devices, using Material Intelligence tracking systems supplied by Pallet Earth, will help save us time and money on expensive replacement containers.
The GPS trackers will send out a signal every six hours with an accurate location, which will limit the time the containers are left empty and increase availability for customers.
We are hoping to trial the trackers in our pink insulated bins, ensuring we can track temperatures and keep perishable items moving within the chill chain at all times.
Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Limited, Hugh Town, St Mary’s, Isles Of Scilly TR21 0LJ
Delivering for Scilly is produced by Isles of Scilly Steamship Group inhouse communications team.
Meet Jonathan Hinkles, the new Managing Director of Skybus, on page 13
We are officially the best ferry route for wildlife spotting – again! Find out more on page 22
T +44 (0) 1736 334240
With grateful thanks to all team members who’ve helped contribute articles and photos. Opinions expressed are the authors’ and not necessarily those of the company. Whilst every effort is made to ensure total accuracy Isles of Scilly Steamship Group cannot be help responsible for any errors or omissions within this magazine.
New corporate website
As the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group continues to grow and expand, we are delighted to let you know our new, dedicated corporate website which has been built internally by our marketing department is now live.
The new website will interact with other businesses at a corporate level, and will be used to communicate our Group’s purpose, governance and authority to potential investors and business partners.
It is home to information such as annual reports, jobs and careers, background material for the media and information on sustainability.
A key feature of our new corporate website is a dedicated corporate video, which provides a compelling and accessible way to tell our story.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, video content is one of the most engaging and effective ways to introduce our business, communicate our values, and showcase our operations.
It highlights our rich heritage, our diverse business operations, and our vision for the future—all in a format that is easily shareable and impactful.
The video tells the story of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group in just under five minutes! We’d encourage you to take a look if you haven’t already - https://bit.ly/3Dy5MWq
It is part of a wider project to re-brand the Steamship Group’s services.
Last year we launched Isles of Scilly Freight, a one-stop-shop for freight needs and a new customer-facing marketplace for Isles of Scilly Travel will follow soon.
Visit the new corporate website �� www.islesofscillysteamshipgroup.co.uk
NEW VESSELS
Menawethan and Scillonian IV
Ten months into our landmark project and it's making great strides. All the hull blocks for
Erected in building dock
Awaiting erection in building dock
Ready for integration
In fabrication workshop
Integrated dockside as megablock
MENAWETHAN GALLERY
Units assembly completed
Units in fabrication workshop
Erected in building dock
Awaiting erection in building dock
Ready for integration
In fabrication workshop
Integrated dockside as megablock
U9
Factory acceptance tests
It was a busy start to 2025 for some of the new vessels project team who travelled around Europe visiting machinery suppliers for the new vessels.
Project manager Chris Lingham and marine engineer Sam Noye visited Nantes, France, visiting Mecatlantic, to attend factory acceptance tests (FAT) for some of the electrical generator sets for both Scillonian IV and Menawethan.
Chris then travelled to Ghent, Belgium, for the FAT of the first and second main engines for Scillonian IV. He also joined Scillonian III Master Dave Redgrave and Gry Maritha Master Tom Sexton who travelled to Poland visiting MacGregor, the factory making the pallet hoist and side door for Menawethan and witnessing the FAT.
Further FATs for Menawethan’s main switchboard and electrical system took place in February, and the tests for Scillonian IV's main switchboard and electrical system will take place later this month.
The factory acceptance tests include testing of the machinery safety systems and performance of the equipment enabling any issues to be identified before the machinery is delivered to the shipyard.
Cornish companies chosen
Two Falmouth-based companies, Armada Engineering Ltd and Wills Ridley Ltd, are supplying hydraulic and steering systems for the new vessels. Both have supported the Steamship Group for more than 30 years.
Armada specialises in state-of-the-art hydraulic systems for the marine industry. The hydraulic power units for Scillonian IV and Menawethan have been designed, built and tested at their workshop before being shipped to Vietnam.
Our classification surveyors, Lloyd’s Register, will attend the FATs for the main engines, generators, electrical switchboards, gearboxes, etc and issue certificates on completion of a satisfactory test.
Piriou and ISSG attend the factory acceptance tests to verify the performance of the machinery and confirm that it functions correctly and in accordance with specification. Should there be any issues, these can be addressed and resolved prior to the machinery being shipped from the factory.
Wills Ridley has designed and manufactured hydraulic steering gear, electrical controls and rudders since 1963. The components for the steering gears and electrical controls that utilise state-of-the-art technology are being manufactured at Wills Ridley’s factory before being installed and tested in Vietnam.
Armada’s Managing Director, Joff Collins, expressed pride in continuing their longstanding partnership. Wills Ridley’s Director, Ryan Kitchener, highlighted the significance of working on local vessels and his excitement of being part of this project.
A day in the life of Richard Castle
As part of our strategy to build relationships with overseas airlines who operate DH6-Twin Otters and BN2 Islander aircraft, we sought volunteer captains for winter secondments to the Caribbean.
In November, Skybus pilot Richard Castle took up a secondment to the island of Montserrat. Here, we speak to Richard about the move and find out what a typical day looks like for him.
Can you tell us a bit about how you came to be working in the Caribbean?
Back in September 2024 the CEO at Fly Montserrat, Nigel Harris, got in touch with Skybus and asked if we had a “spare” Islander pilot to cover their busy winter season, which happily coincides with the quieter winter period at Skybus. Having been at Skybus for nearly eight years, this seemed like an amazing chance to put the skills I’ve built up during my time on the Skybus Islanders to good use in a completely different part of the world.
When did you go and how long are you there for?
Fly Montserrat needed someone to start at the beginning of November, so it was relatively short notice. Once we had the proposal agreed, things moved pretty fast. We had to jump through several hoops to get my licences validated including passing an air law exam for the UK overseas territory aviation regulator ASSI, and moving a handful of my usual annual revalidation refreshers forward so everything was current on reaching Montserrat.
I arrived in Montserrat in the afternoon on 2nd November, did my checkout on the airfield on the 3rd and was line training with passengers by the 4th so I hit the ground running. I’ve worked through the busy Christmas and St Patrick’s Day periods then I'm heading back to Cornwall at the end of March to resume flying with Skybus in April.
Where are you based and flying from/to?
The airline is based on Montserrat and operates a schedule linking the island to Antigua. It also charters to most of the Caribbean, and so far I’ve flown to St Kitts, Barbuda, Dominica and Guadeloupe on charters alongside the scheduled Antigua flights.
Can you tell us a bit about the planes?
Fly Montserrat operates a fleet of three Britten Norman Islanders built between 1971 and 1987. Although slightly older, they’re very familiar to me coming from Skybus Islanders. One difference is we frequently operate with a passenger up front with the pilot. The Islanders are the perfect tool for the job. At 550 metres long, the runway on Monserrat is only marginally longer than the shortest runway on Isles of Scilly and with a six degree approach and tricky terrain surrounding the airfield there’s not many aircraft I’d rather be in.
Can you give us some information about your daily routine?
Similar to Skybus, generally no two days are the same. At the moment, there are three pilots so most days there are two of us on duty. A shift is typically four or six sectors, although charters are often added at the last-minute so a degree of flexibility is essential. The first flight is typically at 10:20am so I normally try and get a coffee in down at Little Bay prior to work - the dive shop there is the only place that does proper coffee! The last flight is scheduled in at 5:30pm. It’s winter here so sunset is still relatively early just after 5:30pm and pretty dark by 6:00pm.
Where are you living?
Fly Montserrat rents a 2-bedroom flat, less than 10 minutes from the airport, for seasonal pilots. I’m sharing with another guy from the UK who is on his second winter working for Fly Montserrat. Although basic, the flat is 1,000 feet above sea level and
has excellent views across to Antigua. Being on a hillside higher up means we benefit from cooler conditions than other parts of the island. This has definitely helped with adapting to the fairly constant 28°C temperature.
Can you give us a flavour of island life?
The hurricane season officially ended at the end of November so we’re just moving into the drier winter period. The weather has been pretty benign since I arrived and rarely presents much challenge to the flying operation. It’s very rare to get cloud below 2,000 feet and the occasional showers are intense albeit short lived. The biggest challenge has been adapting to the temperature, especially since the aircraft aren’t fitted with any air conditioning.
Montserrat relies heavily on imported goods from the US and UK, so the supermarkets are somewhat expensive and the choice of fresh veg is very limited. Eating out is more reasonably priced although the choice is typically jerk chicken or jerk pork, with either rice or chips. On the plus side, the local lager Carib is quite reasonably priced everywhere!
The sea temperature is between 29 and 30°C so most of my free time is spent freediving on the local coral reefs, and I’ve been using my days off to learn to scuba dive. The beaches are amazing, and it’s not unusual to find yourself alone on one. There’s also a good network of nature trails which I’ve been slowly exploring, many of which give you excellent views of the volcano that dominates the southern half of the island.
Does Fly Montserrat have any similarities to Skybus?
The flight time to Antigua is around 20 minutes with a fairly short turnaround time which results in a similarly busy, hands-on environment. Whereas the biggest challenge in the UK is typically the weather, here the biggest challenge is managing the turnarounds in Antigua. Connecting flights are often delayed, as flights frequently go overweight and bags have to be counted/offloaded on stand. This means keeping everything running on time can be incredibly challenging!
The airspace itself is also rather chaotic. Antigua has no radar so all the jets coming in from Europe and the US are operating on a procedural service and air traffic controllers are extremely busy, which can make the radio a challenge.
Montserrat itself lacks any sea connectivity, so people are completely reliant on the airport here so its similarly a lifeline link.
What else can you tell us about Montserrat?
The recent history of Montserrat is dominated by the Soufrière Hills volcano. In 1995 it erupted after a long period of dormancy, almost completely burying the capital city, Plymouth, and leaving more than half the island uninhabitable. The population dropped from over 11,000 pre-volcano to around 4,300 today. The area adjacent to the current exclusion zone is still dominated by abandoned houses and resorts and it’s been eerily fascinating to explore this part of the island.
Another surprising thing is the strong Irish heritage due to a wave of immigration in the early 1600s. This is reflected in common Irish surnames and place names and the nickname of the island itself, the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean”. St Patrick’s is a big event for the Montserrations and celebrated with a 10-day national holiday and as such will be the busiest time of the year for Fly Montserrat.
Welcome to our new Skybus pilots
Skybus has recruited Pilots ahead of the busy summer season.
The jobs have been created to build Skybus’s crew for flights from Land’s End Airport, Cornwall Airport Newquay and Exeter Airport to the Isles of Scilly.
Up to 15 passenger flights per day (Monday to Saturday) will operate across the Skybus network to St Mary’s, the UK’s most southerly airport.
Chief Pilot Captain Ben Woodward said: “Skybus offers some of the most enjoyable yet demanding flying for pilots anywhere in the UK, as we work throughout pretty much all weathers to keep the Isles of Scilly connected.
“We’re delighted with the progress that all of our new recruits have made through their comprehensive training and are greatly looking forward to them joining the Skybus team in time for what promises to be a busy summer ahead.”
The new First Officers will operate up to 10 flights each day ranging from 15 minutes to 60 minutes long.
The unique nature of St Mary’s, where each end of the main runway is at a 1:20 gradient, leads to specific training requirements for pilots joining Skybus, in addition to their type-rating on the DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft.
More flights from Newquay
The Skybus flight schedule from Cornwall Airport Newquay will have a major expansion for the summer season. Flights resumed for 2025 – the 32nd season from Newquay - on Monday 31st March.
The route will go from last year’s three weekly flights to two flights every day (Monday to Saturday) from 12th May, with a choice of morning and afternoon departures in each direction. A further increase will see a third flight added each day at lunchtimes (Monday to Saturday) from 1st July.
Skybus expects to fly over seven times more passengers via Newquay this summer
thanks to its expanded schedule and the connectivity it brings for the Isles of Scilly. Flight timings are designed to enable passengers to arrange connecting flights via Cornwall Airport Newquay to a wide range of destinations throughout the UK, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh and beyond.
Skybus has been flying from Cornwall Airport Newquay since June 1992, a successful partnership spanning more than 30 years and the airport’s longest serving airline. The airline has flown almost 400,000 passengers on more than 40,000 flights from Newquay to Scilly.
Welcome to Jonathan Hinkles
In January, Jonathan Hinkles was appointed as the Managing Director of Skybus, bringing over 30 years of aviation experience to the role. His appointment reflects the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s commitment to returning the airline to sustainable profitability.
Jonathan had been advising Skybus for six months before his official appointment and will now lead the airline’s management team in delivering a five-year strategy, reporting to a new Aviation Board committee.
Previously CEO of UK regional airline Loganair, Jonathan
has also held senior roles at Astraeus and Virgin Atlantic. He is focused on ensuring Skybus continues to serve the Isles of Scilly while enhancing safety, customer service, and financial success.
Steamship Group CEO Stuart Reid welcomed Jonathan, highlighting his expertise in regional aviation as a key asset in driving Skybus forward after challenging years for the industry.
Skybus Managing Director
Jonathan Hinkles said: “Our expansion at Cornwall Airport Newquay is great news for customers, bringing new connectivity, more seats and more travel options for those flying to and from the Isles of Scilly.”
Amy Smith, Head of Commercial, Cornwall Airport Newquay, commented: “It’s fantastic news to see Skybus expanding its services at Cornwall Airport Newquay for the summer 2025 season. This significant boost in flights underscores the strong partnership we’ve built over more than three decades and reinforces our airport’s role as a vital gateway for the Isles of Scilly.”
Customer Feedback
Always a pleasure to hear your voice if I call and know that I am going to get great service along with a laugh and your personal touch. The gods were obviously looking after me in delaying my return and missing the Gry. So good we kept my flight booking in place.
I am sending you this email to express my sincere gratitude for the outstanding customer service we received when travelling on the Scillonian ferry to and from the Isles of Scilly, on Monday 14th October. Your team’s interaction with my policing team left a lasting positive impression on us and I felt compelled to share my appreciation and thanks.
I appreciate the recent weeks have probably been a logistical nightmare for the freight department but I wanted to write to you and say grateful I am for the efforts of Amanda and Neil and the Gry Crew. As you may know, we are in the process of building our house and regular deliveries are critical to keep our project moving forward and avoid costly delays.
Whilst we have happily deferred our non-urgent deliveries, Neil and Amanda have made sure that our crucial items have been accommodated which is no mean feat given the changes to the freight runs while the Gry has been off for maintenance. I would like to pass on our thanks and appreciation for their efficiency and organisational skills in what has surely been a testing time.
I have just booked my trip for June. For the 3rd year running, and probably before that, I have spoken to your delightful, cheerful and friendly staff. I wanted to say how much I appreciate the outstanding service I receive from you guys. So refreshing in this day and age.
I broke down on the A30 this morning and limped my car into the IoS car park (near Trereife). The lady there was so kind, letting me use the loo and offering me a hot drink. I just wanted to pass on my thanks as she left before I was recovered by the AA!
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and delighted to share some of our recent comments with you A big thank you, as always, to all our employees for making comments so commonplace.
Feedback
we’re you here.
making these
We were travelling in full uniform to locate and arrest an offender on the islands. Your team showed a genuine interest in our welfare and went above and beyond to provide a brilliant service, ensuring that all our needs were met effectively. Their friendly demeanour and willingness to assist made the entire operation stress free and enjoyable. We very much look forward to travelling with you again.
Thank you so much for all your support for our careers events last week. We really appreciate it and are very grateful! Your workshop was really interesting and such fun! And of course, your input during the convention afternoon and evening was very helpful indeed.
Inspiring future careers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Over the winter months we have had the privilege of attending several careers events, showcasing the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group to students across the county.
At Mounts Bay Academy’s annual careers fair in November, Andrew Fogden (Freight and Commercial Manager for Isles of Scilly Freight) and Kevin Rouncefield (Maintenance Manager for Skybus Engineering) were proud to introduce students to the exciting career opportunities within our company. It was a great chance to chat with students and their teachers throughout the day and share insights into the varied roles we offer.
At the St Ives School event, Emily Curnow (Skybus Captain) and Ian Whittaker (Hangar Assistant for Skybus Engineering) delivered an engaging aviation presentation, sharing the fascinating opportunities available within this dynamic sector. The school shared glowing feedback, expressing their appreciation for Emily and Ian’s time and enthusiasm, noting that both students and teachers loved learning more about their roles.
At Falmouth Marine School’s Industry Day, Sam Noye (Second Engineer for Scillonian III) represented the Steamship Group, engaging with students and teachers to discuss industry
required programmes and promote the maritime and aviation-based career options available.
In January, Marine Superintendent Tom Weise spoke to senior students at Five Islands Academy on St Mary’s about our diverse career opportunities in the maritime industry, along with an update on our new vessels project.
At Madron Daniel School, Chief Engineer Jono Jackman shared his expertise on seafaring careers and engineering, giving students a glimpse into life in the maritime sector.
At Humphry Davy School’s Careers Fair, Vicky Wiltshire (Finance Manager), Andrew Fogden and Philippa Holmes (Passenger Relations
Supervisor), were on hand to discuss careers in finance, logistics, freight services, customer service, and travel operations.
In February Kevin Rouncefield attended Cornwall College’s Industry Day, where he chatted to students and apprentices about careers in aviation engineering. With fantastic engagement—especially from those on engineering and aviation courses—it was great to see so much enthusiasm for the industry.
Events like these are key to inspiring the next generation and showcasing the exciting opportunities within the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group.
We’re proud to work closely with schools across Cornwall and Scilly, supporting their efforts to guide and inspire the next
generation.
A big thank you to our dedicated team members who gave up their time to attend these events and represent the Group.
We look forward to continuing to support these brilliant initiatives in the future.
Curnow School visit
On the 4th March, we had the pleasure of welcoming students and staff from Curnow School, a SEND school in Redruth, for a fascinating look behind the scenes.
As part of their careers event, the students, aged 16 to 19, explored how different
transport systems work, gaining realworld insights into ferry and air travel. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and curiosity while on board Scillonian III, and we’re looking forward to hosting another visit later in the year for more students.
All change at Skybus
The start of 2025 has seen several changes at Skybus Engineering, which looks after the airline’s seven aircraft at Land’s End Airport.
The busy department is responsible for the maintenance, safety, and airworthiness of Skybus’s fleet of four Twin Otters and three Islanders.
On 31st December, Skybus Engineering and Airworthiness Manager, Mick Yould, retired after 30 years of service.
As a member of management, Mick was instrumental in building and developing our engineering team, overseeing a
number of employees working their way to becoming licensed engineers.
Land’s End Airport hosted a leaving party for Mick on 12th December with past and present members of Skybus and Board members attending to show our appreciation of Mick’s service.
Richard Cornish and Kevin Rouncefield have been appointed as Skybus’s new airworthiness and maintenance managers respectively.
Having both been interviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority, Richard and Kevin were given approval to take on their new roles from 1st January 2025.
Richard and Kevin will now form part of the Skybus management team and the Steamship Group’s wider Operational Management Team (OMT).
Richard said: “When I joined Skybus Engineering in June 2007, I never dreamt that I’d end up in a senior management position. My career here has been one of continual learning and growth and that hasn’t stopped yet, with my new role meaning I have to develop a new set of skills and knowledge, beyond just how to maintain aircraft but also how to make sure our fleet is always airworthy.
“It’s both exciting and a little bit daunting but a challenge
Skybus Engineering
I’m very much looking forward to. One thing that makes the transition easier is the support from my team, especially
Kevin in his new capacity as maintenance manager and Bex Green in Technical Records.”
Kevin said: “I joined the Skybus
Engineering team in 2013 after a 15-year career in the Royal Air Force. Having carried out many of the roles within the
team from mechanic to licenced engineer and hangar foreman, the next step for me was to take on the role of maintenance manager.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges it will bring, but confident that with the team we have built up, new managing director Jonathan, and Richard as the airworthiness manager, we can make it even better.”
Passenger and crew’s safety is paramount, and the maintenance of the Skybus fleet is carried out to the highest standard possible.
The aircraft have pre and post flight inspections daily. The team operates a six day a week shift pattern that begins at 6.30am to get the aircraft ready for the first flights of the day and can finish at around 8.30pm in the summer when they are put to bed.
Each day the team cleans the aircraft, checking everything from oil levels to lighting, and deals with any technical issues and deferred defect
rectification.
The Twin Otters also have routine maintenance after 200 flying hours – or after 93 days, whichever is first. Each aircraft flies on average 780 hours each year, so this happens every four to five weeks. The inspection on each aircraft takes the whole team of engineers and fitters three full days to complete.
The Islanders, the aircraft used mainly for freight and ambulance flights, have routine maintenance after every 50 flying hours or 31 days, whichever is first. This maintenance can vary in complexity and again takes the team up to two days to complete.
On top of this, each aircraft spends a month during the quieter winter season having its mandatory annual maintenance and progressive work that is carried out on a cyclical basis.
After a major inspection the aircraft are taken on either a general handling flight or a full test flight. During the
test flight they are loaded to the maximum take-off weight capacity, which includes full fuel and individually weighed sealed containers that are strapped into the seats and baggage holds to simulate passengers and luggage. This is to check the aircraft flying characteristics meet the mandatory performance specifications for the aircraft type.
The department is highly regulated and is audited every six months by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and internally monthly. Reams of paperwork, which must be kept for the life of each plane, are stored in an archive on site and are managed by Technical Records Supervisor Bex Green, who took over from Linda Nelson.
Getting Scillonian III shipshape for the 2025 season
Scillonian III set sail for the 2025 season on Saturday, 22nd March after a delayed start due to essential repair work being identified during sea trials.
While she was out of service for the winter, an extensive maintenance programme took place to get her ready to welcome passengers once again.
One of the biggest jobs this season has been giving Scillonian III a full repaint at Penzance Dry Dock, ensuring she looks as good as new for the year ahead. Beneath the surface, vital mechanical work and some steelwork repairs have been carried out on the hull to ensure the vessel remains strong, sturdy, and reliable.
One of the key mechanical tasks this season has been a gearbox overhaul by contractors, Bartech (propulsion engineering specialists), ensuring the ship runs efficiently. The ship’s crane, which plays a key role in handling luggage and freight, has also received some TLC with an overhaul of its bearings and hydraulic rams.
Electrical upgrades such as improvements to the emergency switchboard have been carried out to ensure everything is in top working order, as well as routine water testing to maintain the highest onboard quality standards.
Ensuring passenger safety is our top priority, and over the winter period, all lifesaving equipment – including life rafts, rescue boats, and lifejackets – have been thoroughly checked, serviced, and recertified.
Additionally, the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) that continuously records essential navigational and operational data, and the onboard radio systems have undergone their annual surveys to ensure compliance standards.
During post-layup sea trials, an issue was identified with the gearbox to intermediate shaft coupling, which includes the shaft brake. To address this, further work was required, including verifying the port-side propeller shaft alignment, which took place at A&P Falmouth.
Wildlife spotting on board Scillonian III
For the third year in a row, the Scillonian III crossing has been named the best in the UK for wildlife spotting.
An incredible 347 animals –of seven different marine species – were recorded by volunteer surveyors from marine conservation charity ORCA from the decks of Scillonian III in 2024.
The highlight of the year was a feeding frenzy of breaching common dolphins, bluefin tuna
and a wide variety of diving seabirds.
Sharon Sandercock, Marketing and Communications Manager for Isles of Scilly Travel, said: “We know how common it is to spot wildlife on the journey to the Isles of Scilly, but it’s always nice to hear it officially from the team at ORCA.”
A distance of 1,868km was travelled on 15 surveys between March and November – the biggest distance surveyed in a single year since our partnership began in 2009. The surveys were carried out by 45 trained Marine Mammal Surveyors, many of whom are from the local area.
Seven different marine species were seen, including whales,
dolphins, porpoises, seals and fish. Common dolphins were the species recorded most frequently, with 262 animals seen throughout the year and recorded on almost every survey.
Sightings were lower overall in 2024, and this was accompanied by a change in the distribution of animals along the route. Fewer animals were recorded in deeper water – about half-way along the journey – than in previous years, which highlights the importance of the year-on-year, continued monitoring, as trends and shifts in distribution being reported in real-time is important for cetacean conservation.
Photo: ORCA | Common dolphin pod
Photo: ORCA | Risso dolphin
Despite there being fewer sightings, there were some memorable surveys including one in October which recorded 79 dolphins in total and July survey which saw 53 animals in a single crossing, including harbour porpoise and ocean sunfish as well as Risso’s dolphins and common dolphins – a sight enjoyed by the ORCA survey team, crew and passengers on board Scillonian III.
Risso’s dolphins remained high again in 2024, compared to the long-term pattern with 12 animals spotted. Research is mounting to suggest that warming oceans have altered
the life cycles and distribution of some of their prey in the English Channel and Western Approaches, which could explain a change in occurrence.
Lucy Babey, Director of Programmes for ORCA, said:
“Our 2024 survey season has further highlighted the importance of year-on-year, continued monitoring by ORCA on board Scillonian III. With trends and shifts in cetacean distribution being reported on in real-time, the information collected during ORCA surveys is crucial for cetacean conservation.
“A magnificent seven different marine species were sighted
and recorded by our volunteer Marine Mammal Surveyor teams this year, including common dolphin, Risso's dolphin, minke whale and sunfish.
“We are so proud to work with
and we can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.”
Isles of Scilly Travel on the crossing between Penzance and St Mary‘s,
Photo: ORCA | Harbour porpoise
Photo: Paul Semmens | Ocean Sunfish
Social media engagement
Just checked the Marine Traffic app and the lovely lady is on her way! I do love it when the Scillonian returns to service! Will go down to meet her of course! Great to welcome back our lovely visitors, it’s nice to get some life back into the islands after a long winter! Here’s to a sunny, busy 2025 season!
World Pilot Gig Championships
4 March at 08:56
Exciting scenes early this morning as the first of the gigs arrive safely on St Mary’s courtesy of Isles of Scilly Travel
First sailed on the Scillonian III in 1982. Fond memories of trips on her. But looking forwards to Scillonian IV, lt looks to be a magnificent piece of modern engineering.
She's been a good servant over the years, braving bad weather on this sometimes tricky crossing. As an ex gig rower, thanks very much!
Cornwall Airport Newquay
29 January at 11:05
We're delighted to announce an exciting expansion of service for Summer 2025 between us and the Isles of Scilly Travel with Skybus! ��
We look forward to welcoming back the route to St Mary's Airport on Monday 31 March, initially operating on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays
… And from then on it only gets better!
From Monday 12 May, get ready for two flights per day (morning and afternoon) from Monday to Saturday in each direction.
Then from 1 July we will see a third flight added, operating each day at lunchtime, taking us up to 3 flights daily Monday through Saturday! We're super excited by this increase in connectivity as with more flights departing from your #ProperLocalAirport than ever before, escaping to the Cornish Caribbean has never been easier ��✨
�� Read more - https://shorturl.at/p0KId
#SkyBus #IslesOfScilly #CornwallAirportNewquay #IncreaseFlights
I enjoyed our first flight last October I've always been frightened of flying but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. All very efficient and organised much better than the major airports which I'm beginning to hate .
24 March at 21:46
Another cracking day out on the good ship. Appears to be in excellent health and performing well in upwards of 1.5m swell �� ships complement were superb as ever and the welcome from Captain Victoria was humbling but very much appreciated. Good luck for the months ahead, roll on August!
I look forward to being on her later in the year. Have travelled there and back by sea so many times since the late 60’s and feel very fond of all those involved, ships and people. Or should it be boat? I’m never sure.
Sholto Blackwell