A new freight vessel for the Isles of Scilly has been launched in Vietnam.
The 45m (150ft) long ship, the Menawethan, has been built to replace the Gry Maritha in 2026, and continue the vital freight link between the islands and the British mainland, operating out of Penzance, Cornwall.
The launch on Friday evening involved flooding a dock to float the vessel off of kneel blocks before being towed to a nearby berth on the Nha Be River in an operation which took about eight hours, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group said.
The vessel was now due to undergo several months of testing ahead of sea trials planned for early 2026, before joining the steamship group’s fleet, bosses added.
Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said the launch was a “proud moment” and a key step in delivering a “stronger, more sustainable service” for the islands.
“This vessel had been designed specifically with the unique needs of the islands in mind, and… [the] milestone brings us another step closer to her entering service,” he said.
The ship is part of the company’s £40m vessel replacement programme, representing one of the largest investments in its history, which also included a new passenger ferry, the Scillonian IV, the group said.
Built at Piriou’s shipyard in Vietnam, the Menawethan featured greater cargo capacity, improved chilled and frozen storage, and space for up to 12 passengers, it added.
