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One of the UK’s most characterful passenger ships has completed its final voyage after nearly 50 years of service. Tears, sea shanties, and stories of stormy crossings marked the final journey of the Scillonian III, affectionately known as the “vomit comet” due to its tendency to rock in rough Atlantic weather.
End of an Era for the Atlantic Crossing
The grand vessel made its final 37-nautical-mile trip from the island of St Mary’s to Penzance in Cornwall on Sunday, concluding nearly half a century of travel between the British mainland and the Isles of Scilly. Terry Ward, whose great-grandfather served as founding chair of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group operating the vessel, recalled being onboard for the ship’s inaugural journey through the Atlantic swells in 1977. Ward noted that the ship became an essential part of island life, signaling the start of the season each March when it arrived to end the isolation of the winter months.
Over 49 years, the ship completed more than 10,000 trips, transporting islanders, holidaymakers, and birdwatchers between spring and autumn. While acknowledged as a beloved vessel, travelers frequently noted its potential to induce sea sickness during rough weather, with Ward describing how heavy seas could transform the boat into a hospital ship.
Passengers often developed strong attachments to specific areas of the vessel, from outer decks favored by wildlife spotters to the lower deck where the engine’s drone helped travelers sleep. Ray Jackman, a local businessman who experienced both the first and final voyages, praised the ship’s reliability, noting that it rarely broke down throughout its decades of operation.
History and the Arrival of a Successor
Scillonian III was the third passenger ship to bear the name over the past century. Its predecessor, Scillonian II, served for 25 years, while the original Scillonian operated from 1926 to 1956 and served as a military transport fitted with guns during the second world war. The retiring vessel was originally launched by the then Prince Charles.
A replacement vessel, Scillonian IV, is currently traveling around the Cape of Good Hope from south-east Asia where it was built. The steamship company stated that the new ship will be faster, carry more passengers, and feature specialized roll and pitch reduction systems to manage ocean swells ahead of its maiden voyage in March.
Emotional Send-Off in Cornwall
Although the steamship company anticipated only a modest turnout, tickets for the final sailing sold out entirely. Passengers enjoyed calm conditions and blue skies, and as dusk approached, a flotilla of Cornish pilot gigs, kayaks, and pleasure cruisers escorted the vessel into Penzance as hundreds of spectators watched from the harbor walls.
Upon docking, the Cape Cornwall Singers greeted the arrival with a rendition of Harry’s Song for Cornwall. Passengers disembarking included longtime holidaymakers Pat and David Smethhurst, who reflected on the emotional crossing, and local nurse Jane Coak, who noted that the community would miss the ship dearly. Sholto Blackwell, founder of a ship appreciation Facebook page with nearly 5,000 members, admitted to experiencing sea sickness over dozens of trips across decades, but maintained that the discomfort was part of the magical journey to the islands.
