The ‘Ivor B’ – the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company’s latest fleet addition has completed her maiden sailing from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly transporting building materials for the new £13 million secondary school project.
Previously named the ‘Guedel,’ the freight vessel was purchased in France and has traded all her life serving the islands off the coast of Brittany. She came into service last week and joins the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company’s other vessels, the Scillonian III and regular freight carrier to the islands, the Gry Maritha and inter-island vessels Lyonesse Lady and Swift Lady.
The ship’s flag and port of registry has been changed to British and registered in Scilly. The Ivor B is 32 metres long and can carry around 280 tonnes of cargo. The services of experienced Master, Captain John Castle have been retained to run the vessel along with three other crew members, the Chief Mate being from a long-standing seafaring island family.
The Company’s newest ship will be used to transport all types of freight to and from the islands and has been brought into operation to increase much-needed capacity to carry freight on the route. The coaster will be used to carry timber, aggregates and other materials for a number of building projects in the Isles of Scilly.
Following the sad and untimely death of Ivor Bone at the beginning of this year, it was decided the ship would be named after him. Ivor was a contracts manager for Kier Western, the main contractor for the school project.
Jeff Marston, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company said: “Ivor Bone was a very talented and well-respected contracts manager and was instrumental in getting the school construction off the ground. He spent time on the islands and he had developed a good relationship with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company – he understood the challenges of serving an islands project like this one. We’re very sorry that he died so suddenly, but think the renaming of the new ship to Ivor B is a fitting tribute.”
