THE Isles of Scilly passenger ferry Scillonian III made her final sailing yesterday on Sunday (November 8), bringing almost five decades of service between Penzance and St Mary’s to a close.

Since entering service in 1977, Scillonian III has carried more than five million passengers to the Isles of Scilly, travelling more than 780,000 miles – the equivalent of three trips to the moon.

It was a full ship for her final sailing from St Mary’s to Penzance. A time capsule containing memories of Scillonian III was sealed in a special ceremony before departure; among the items donated were messages, photographs and mementoes, historic documents, publications and records, tickets and a letter carried by Scillonian III during her inaugural sail to Scilly on May 25, 1977.

The ship and her crew were blessed by Steve Morgan from the Mission to Seafarers, and Scillonian III was welcomed back to a performance from Cape Cornwall Singers and crowds of well-wishers in Penzance.

Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said: “Today marks the end of an extraordinary chapter. Scillonian III has been part of the fabric of life in the Isles of Scilly for almost 50 years.

“She has carried generations of islanders home, brought families together, taken visitors on their first journey to the islands and been there for countless moments, big and small.

“For those of us who have had the privilege of working with her, today is incredibly emotional. We thank Scillonian III for her unwavering service and wish her well.”

The state-of-the-art Scillonian IV departed Vietnam on October 31 and is due to enter service in March 2027 - the final part of a £40 million vessel replacement programme.

The new vessel will carry up to 600 passengers (a 24 per cent increase) while reducing journey times. It will feature roll and pitch reduction systems to enhance passenger comfort, and is designed utilising modern propulsion technologies that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. It is also designed to integrate further enhancements as technology develops.