All sailing to the  Isles of Scilly on the Scillonian III has now been cancelled for  today. 

Sailing for day trip passengers was the first to be cancelled this morning and passengers staying on the island were contacted, with warnings of delays.

Today's planned shipment of frozen and chilled goods had also been cancelled, which will have an impact on today's freight schedule.

Now the company responsibile has said that all sailing has had to be cancelled, due to a continued electrical fault first identified yesterday.

The majority of passengers due to travel on the ship were transferred to Skybus fixed wing flight services or Island Helicopter services from Land’s End Airport.


It is unclear at this time when full service will resume. 


Electrical engineers having been working onboard the ferry to resolve an electrical fault first identified on Monday, when it had been feared visitors would be stranded on the islands overnight.


Following a routine test on the ship's emergency systems a fault was identified in the back-up batteries and it was unclear whether it could be fixed in time to return to Penzance later that evening.

A team including two electrical engineers and two members of Isles of Scilly Steamship Group's senior management team travelled to the islands, but after a full investigation and repair work the ship left St Mary's at around 7.30pm. Passengers were met at Penzance quay by Steamship Company staff.

The company said: "We would like to reiterate our gratitude and thanks to our passengers for their patience and to all local businesses, organisations and individuals for their help with assisting us with passenger comfort and needs."

  • In separate news for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company this morning, non-executive director Mark Howarth has announced he has tendered his resignation from the board.

In a statement dated today, Mr Howard said: "I am passionate about the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and want to see it succeed for its shareholders, customers, employees and stakeholders.

"However, in recent times, it has been made increasingly difficult for me to agree with, or influence, the company’s direction of travel and therefore I felt that the only honourable thing to do was to resign.

Falmouth Packet:

Mark Howarth

"I have great respect for the employees who are doing an amazing job, and for the stakeholders of the company, many of whom have become friends, and I thank everyone for their support whilst I have been involved with the company.

"As a shareholder myself, I have a strong interest in a positive future for the company and will continue to take an active interest. I really want to see everyone working together for the future of the company and the islands.”

Mr Howard has been on the board as a non-executive director since 2013. In September last year, he was asked to step up to interim managing director, which lasted until May 2018, when he stepped back to non-executive director.