Menawethan

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s new purpose-built freight vessel, Menawethan, has successfully entered the sea trials phase in Vietnam, marking a significant milestone in the ship’s construction.

Sea trials are a critical stage in the build programme, during which the vessel’s performance, manoeuvrability, propulsion and onboard systems are rigorously tested at sea to ensure they meet design specifications and international standards.

Gry Maritha Master Tom Sexton and Technical Superintendent Luke Parnell have travelled to Vietnam for the sea trials, in collaboration with Piriou shipyard and the classification society, Lloyds Register.

Menawethan will sail from the shipyard down the Nha Be river to Vung Tau. The sea trials will be conducted off the coast of Vung Tau in the South China Sea, within 20 miles of the shore.

Following the successful completion of sea trials, Menawethan will undergo final fit-out and certification before making her delivery voyage to the UK ahead of entry into service.

Stuart Reid, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said: “The commencement of sea trials represents an important step towards bringing Menawethan into service later this year. The vessel has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the islands, and we are pleased to see her performing well at this crucial stage.”

Once complete, Menawethan will provide a modern, reliable and resilient freight service for the Isles of Scilly, replacing Gry Maritha to deliver essential goods and supplies to the islands year-round.

The state-of-the-art vessel includes a range of improvements, including a much-enhanced cargo capacity and an improved capacity for perishable, chilled and frozen goods, meaning that supplies can be transferred between the mainland and the islands more reliably all year round. It will also have a passenger lounge with accommodation for 12 passengers.

Menawethan has been designed with improved operational efficiency and modern safety features, ensuring it is well suited to serve the unique requirements of the Isles of Scilly for decades to come.

It is being constructed alongside Scillonian IV, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s new passenger vessel, which is scheduled to enter service in 2027. Together, the two new vessels represent a £40m investment in the future of the islands’ lifeline transport links, ensuring modern, resilient and fit-for-purpose freight and passenger services for the Isles of Scilly.

In this episode, Marine Superintendent Tom Weise and Scillonian III Master Dave Redgrave visit Piriou shipyard in Vietnam to share the latest progress on Scillonian IV and Menawethan. We explore passenger areas, crew spaces and technical systems, offering a behind-the-scenes view of how each ship is taking shape and moving closer to joining our fleet.

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of Menawethan’s launch at the end of October. Join Project Manager Chris Lingham on site in Vietnam, along with the team who captured the event as it unfolded. Discover how the operation came together, why it’s significant, and what lies ahead as Menawethan enters commissioning and prepares for her journey to Europe.

Armada Engineering arrived to oversee the setup and commissioning of the vessel’s hydraulic power system. As part of this phase, the team successfully completed a test run of the tunnel thrusters, marking an important milestone and a clear sign of progress since her late-October launch. Visible on the bow in pre-launch images, the tunnel thrusters are installed within a transverse tunnel and provide lateral thrust, significantly enhancing maneuverability during low-speed and close-quarters operations.

Menawethan, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s new freight vessel, was successfully launched Friday evening (Vietnam time),a major milestone marking the start of the final phase of her build programme.

The 45-metre vessel, named after one of the Isles of Scilly’s uninhabited islands, will replace Gry Maritha in 2026, continuing the vital lifeline freight service between the islands and the mainland.

The float-out, during which Menawethan left the building dock for the first time, represents a key stage in the construction process. Her build officially began in June 2024 at Piriou’s shipyard in Vietnam.

The launch involved flooding the dock to float her off the keel blocks and carefully manoeuvring the vessel through the dock entrance into the Nha Be River, towing her to the outfitting berth. A controlled process taking around eight hours, carried out overnight to coincide with high tide and low traffic in the river.

Following her launch, Menawethan now moves into the commissioning phase. This includes extensive testing of all major systems, from generator sets, side door, and pallet hoist to main engines, propulsion, hydraulics, and electrical systems, all in accordance with the shipbuilding specification and Lloyd’s Register classification rules. The full commissioning and function testing programme will take approximately three months, ahead of sea trials planned for the end of January 2026.

Once these trials are complete, Menawethan will formally join the Steamship Group’s fleet, supporting the company’s commitment to providing resilient and reliable freight and passenger links for the Isles of Scilly.

Stuart Reid, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said:

“Seeing Menawethan launched is a proud moment for everyone involved. It’s a visible sign of the progress we’re making to deliver a stronger, more sustainable service for the Isles of Scilly.

“This vessel has been designed specifically with the unique needs of the islands in mind, and today’s milestone brings us another step closer to her entering service.”

The Steamship Group’s £40 million vessel replacement programme represents one of the most significant investments in the company’s history. It reaffirms the Group’s long-term commitment to supporting island communities through enhanced passenger and freight services.

Menawethan will bring a step-change in freight provision, with greater capacity, improved facilities for chilled and frozen goods, and a lounge for up to 12 passengers, providing a year-round passenger and freight sea link.

Menawethan is being built alongside the new Scillonian IV passenger ferry, to the Steamship Group’s detailed design and specifications, by Piriou’s specialist teams of engineers and fabricators.

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Machinery and technical spaces

Installation of machinery, piping, valves, and related equipment is progressing well. The rescue boat davit is installed, along with windlass and anchor chain stoppers. Temporary shore power has been connected to operate the hydraulic systems for the side door and pallet lift.

The cargo crane is due to be delivered to the shipyard this week and installed.

Hull and painting progress

All hull structural tests are complete. Work continues with the 5-coat antifouling system, and areas of the hull have been blasted and painted following docking block relocation. Blue paint is progressing well on the topsides of the hull and white around the wheelhouse areas. All the hull markings, names and logos have been painted in white on the port and starboard bow and stern. The specially designed rubber fenders have been fitted to the hull on the port and starboard sides.

Accommodation and interiors

Crew and passenger accommodation work continues, including ceiling panels, window boxes, and furniture installation.

Electrical and cabling

A total of 51km of electrical cable is being installed, with termination work is ongoing. Wheelhouse console wiring and installation of electrical equipment are progressing steadily.

Quality checks and commissioning

Working closely with the shipyard quality management team the ISSG site teams are steadily completing the quality checks and finishing touches to the hull before launching. The first stage commissioning of the pallet hoist and side door is taking place with the McGregor engineer in attendance and working closely with the shipyard.

Next steps

Once the vessel launches at the end of October there will be a period of commissioning and testing of all the onboard equipment before the sea trials scheduled for early 2026. The sea trials are carried out to ensure that the vessel performs in accordance the shipbuilding specification and for class and statutory compliance. Preparations are progressing well with Piriou and Lloyd’s Register for the delivery voyage of the vessel from Vietnam to UK. ISSG is planning for service entry, crewing, certification, and familiarisation, when the vessel arrives in Penzance.

31st October 2025 – Launch

Menawethan will exit the dock for the first time, marking the start of the final phase of her build.

1st November 2025 – Commissioning begins

Testing and running of the vessel’s systems and equipment will get underway.

January 2026 – Sea trials

A week-long programme of sea trials will take place down the delta to test performance and handling with Steamship crew representatives.

March 2026 – Delivery voyage

Menawethan will begin her journey from Vietnam to Europe.

April 2026 – Arrival in France

The vessel will arrive in France for final preparations ahead of delivery.

May 2026 – Arrival in the UK

Menawethan is due to arrive in the UK ahead of crew familiarisation, training, and final checks before entering service.

On 31st October 2025, Menawethan will make her grand launch – coming afloat for the very first time, marking a huge milestone in her journey. The shipyard is currently working on final preparations for her launch including the last application of paint followed by the removal of scaffolding around her hull.

The launch process will involve flooding the dock and carefully floating Menawethan out of the gates so she can be towed to the outfitting berth. The process is expected to take around four hours and marks the start of the final phase of her build. The undocking will be carried out through the night to coincide with the high tide and less river traffic to disrupt the process.

Following the launch of Menawethan, commissioning of the vessel will begin on 1st November. This process includes running and testing the generator sets, side door, pallet hoist, main engines and propulsion systems, hydraulics and electrical systems, in accordance with the shipbuilding specification and Lloyd’s Register rules. This, with thorough function testing of all systems and equipment, will take approximately three months before she undertakes her week-long sea trials scheduled to take place at the end of January 2026.

The vessel will travel down river to the open sea, near Vung Tau, to demonstrate the full function test of all systems and the ship’s sea keeping performance in the open sea. The commissioning and sea trials process is to ensure everything performs perfectly ahead of preparations for her delivery voyage to the UK via France at the end of March.

Preparations for the launch are well underway. The river in front of the dock entrance gates is being dredged to clear built-up silt and ensure a smooth exit, logos have been applied to the vessel’s hull, and rubber fendering is being fitted.

To document the event, a timelapse and a series of images will be captured to show this exciting moment, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the launch.

Scillonian IV

Once Menawethan is safely floated out, construction work will continue on Scillonian IV in the building dock. Following this, Scillonian IV’s bow megablock will then be placed in the dock for integration, some days after the launching.

This process is a demonstration of precision planning and progress at the yard.

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At the end of August, we proudly announced the confirmed delivery schedules for our two new vessels – a major milestone in our vessel replacement programme and one of the biggest investments in lifeline transport for the Isles of Scilly.

Menawethan, our new freight vessel, remains on track for delivery in spring 2026.

Scillonian IV, our next-generation passenger ferry, will now enter service in March 2027, offering faster journey times, increased comfort, and enhanced environmental performance. The slight adjustment to her schedule is due to global supply chain factors and the longer delivery route, but with confirmed dates, both vessels are set to deliver modern, reliable, and sustainable transport for the islands for decades to come. A true once-in-a-generation investment.

In the meantime, Scillonian III will continue serving passengers through the 2026 season, with her regular maintenance ensuring she remains dependable while our new vessels are completed.

The bow megablock for Scillonian IV is now structurally complete and has been relocated to the head of the dock. Moving it away from the main construction and painting areas keeps them cleaner, ready for the blasting and painting of the megablock to take place.

Meanwhile, rigorous hose testing is underway on Menawethan’s watertight doors. A jet of water is directed over the door seals and windows to confirm they are watertight and the structure unaffected by the heat of welding, with inspectors checking from inside to ensure every seal holds firm.

The vessel’s doors are fitted with a “common dog” system, meaning a single lever operates all securing points at once, adding both safety and efficiency.

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