A MULTI-MILLION pound refurbishment of the Scillonian III is nearing completion.
The vessel is due to leave Penzance Dry Dock in the early hours of tomorrow morning and will undergo sea trials before it is brought back into service for the busy summer season to transport passengers from the town to the Isles of Scilly.
The £2million upgrade includes new lifeboats, seating, lighting and catering and bathroom facilities as well as overhauls of the engineering and structural side of the ship.
"We have listened to feedback from our passengers and that has informed the improvements that have been made," said Jeff Marston, chief executive of Scillonian owner Isles of the Scilly Steamship Company.
"All of the work which has been carried out at the dry dock - a facility operated by the company - is aimed at improving the customer experience and making travel on board pleasant and enjoyable for everyone."
The investment programme is part of a series of cash injections the steamship company is making to its services.
A further £1million is being spent on a new terminal at Land's End Airport which will open in April, a new Twin Otter passenger plane is being leased to increase Skybus capacity and additional improvements are also being made to the company's freight ship, GryMaritha.
Along with the investment, 50 new jobs are also being created from pilots to fire officers and airport staff.
The vessel is due to leave Penzance Dry Dock in the early hours of tomorrow morning and will undergo sea trials before it is brought back into service for the busy summer season to transport passengers from the town to the Isles of Scilly.
The £2million upgrade includes new lifeboats, seating, lighting and catering and bathroom facilities as well as overhauls of the engineering and structural side of the ship.
"We have listened to feedback from our passengers and that has informed the improvements that have been made," said Jeff Marston, chief executive of Scillonian owner Isles of the Scilly Steamship Company.
"All of the work which has been carried out at the dry dock - a facility operated by the company - is aimed at improving the customer experience and making travel on board pleasant and enjoyable for everyone."
The investment programme is part of a series of cash injections the steamship company is making to its services.
A further £1million is being spent on a new terminal at Land's End Airport which will open in April, a new Twin Otter passenger plane is being leased to increase Skybus capacity and additional improvements are also being made to the company's freight ship, GryMaritha.
Along with the investment, 50 new jobs are also being created from pilots to fire officers and airport staff.
