Mike Hicks, the Steamship company chairman has marked his retirement with some exciting views on what the replacement to the Scillonian will be like.
Mike Hicks has always taken an interest in Island boating; he has previously run the Association tripper boat services between the Islands. When asked how he would cope without such an active role, he replied ‘I?m sure I?ll still take a role, but on the sidelines’. He added, ‘I expect I will watch the ships come in over a coffee!? He also said that he would miss the responsibility of decision-making.
Mike revealed that the contract for building the new ship would go to the Appledore shipyard in Devon. The current vessel, The Scillonian III, was built in Appledore in 1975. He also confirmed what many expected; the new ship will be named the Scillonian IV.
The new boat, which will run alongside the Steamship Company’s freight boat, the Gry Maritha, will be equipped with total passenger comforts when she comes into service in the summer of 2003.
The boat will be partly paid for by the objective one European fund, which has been designated, to Cornwall. It is thought that the fund will pay for ?12m out of a total cost of ?16m. The Scillonian IV is reputed to be set to break all current crossing times down by more than an hour which may allow for several more sailings in one day and therefore more freedom for the passenger.