A ceremony attended by dignitaries has marked the official ‘birth date’ for the two new ships which will serve the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG).
This significant milestone in the build process has been recognised for centuries as the official ‘birth’ of any new ship and is an important point in time for the Scillonian IV passenger ferry and the cargo vessel, Menawethan.
Invited guests attended Piriou’s shipyard in Vietnam on Wednesday, November 6, to officially mark the moment, while dignitaries from Britain and France were present. British Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, attended the ceremony.
They were accompanied by senior management from both shipbuilder Piriou and ISSG. As part of the occasion, a coin was laid in the keel of the vessel, which is a shipbuilding tradition. The ceremony is designed as a kind of blessing, bringing good fortune to the ship and its crew.
Ian Howard, chair of ISSG, said: “It was an honour to attend this special moment in the build of our two new vessels. I would like to extend my thanks to the entire team here at Piriou, who are providing the skills and technical expertise to build these new ships for the Isles of Scilly.
“I also want to express my gratitude to all our partners and stakeholders who have contributed to this project. Your support and enthusiasm have been essential in driving us forward.”
Judith Piper, ISSG’s chief financial officer added: “Witnessing the work being carried out first-hand really brings to life the level of skill and precision that goes into building a modern-day vessel.
“Our new vessels have been specifically designed to serve the route between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly. They will improve passenger experience and significantly increase capacity and reliability”.
Modern construction methods mean that ships are now built in blocks, whereas in the past ships were literally built from the keel up. The ceremony is now recognised as the point at which blocks are joined together.
Sebastien Dupont, managing director for Civilian Vessels Newbuilding at Piriou Group, said: “Every member of our staff, from engineering to production, works with passion and dedication to ensure that Scillonian IV and Menawethan are built to the highest standards. This project is the result of collective effort and a shared vision, and I am confident that we will deliver vessels that we can all be proud of.”
The ships are being built alongside each other, to ISSG’s detailed specifications, by Piriou’s expert teams of engineers and fabricators. The build is being overseen in Vietnam by ISSG project managers, Chris Lingham and Peter Broad, who have relocated to Vietnam for the duration of the project.