New Isles of Scilly fast ferry arrives in Newlyn Harbour
It's set to start service next week and will have up to two return sailings a day
A new fast ferry, which will take people to the Isles of Scilly from Cornwall, has arrived in Newlyn Harbour ahead of starting service next week.
Atlantic Wolff, which was named in a competition by students from Five Islands Academy, is a high-speed catamaran with just over 400 seats over two decks.
Scilly Ferries, part of the Harland & Wolff Group, will have up to two return sailings a day between Penzance and St Mary’s.
It’s anticipated the service will run as late into the autumn as the weather permits. Next year, in a full season, the ferry will be operational between April and October.
The ferry sailed into Cornwall yesterday evening after an eight-hour trip from Portsmouth, where it has been fitted out over the last couple of months.
The vessel is 42 metres in length, 11.2 m in width and has a draft of 1.6m. She is powered by 4 Caterpillar engines generating a total 2,984kW (or 4,000HP) powering 4 x Rolls Royce Kamewa waterjets
John Wood, the CEO of Harland & Wolff and Scilly Ferries, said: "This is the service the local community has been calling for over many, many years.
"It will bring much needed tourists to the islands and boost the islands’ economy. We know from meeting people locally there is a huge pent-up demand and I’m looking forward to it being a great success."