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RMV ''Scillonian III'' is a passenger ship based at Penzance in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, run by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company. She operates the principal ferry service to the Isles of Scilly and is one of only four ships in the world still carrying the status of Royal Mail Ship (hence the ''RMV'' - Royal Mail Vessel). ==History== The ''RMV Scillonian III'' was purpose built for the Steamship Company by Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd of Appledore in Devon and was christened by H.R.H. Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall on 17 May 1977 and entered service later in the same month. She is the third passenger ship to carry the ''Scillonian'' name and made her first trip to Scilly on 19 May 1977, sailing from Bideford to St Mary's.〔(Description on ''Hearts of Oak The Penzance/Isles of Scilly Mail Packets''. )〕 On the arrival of the new ship, critics found it "too big, they will never hold her, not suitable or not as good a sea boat as the old boat" (the same had happened when the first ''Scillonian'' went into service in 1926 and again with her replacement in 1956).〔 "Scillonian III Back in Service after £1,700,000 Refit" in (''Scilly up to Date'', issue 120 (April 1999) ), accessed 2011-08-16〕 The ''Scillonian III'' has a length of 68 m, a beam of 11.85 m, a draft of 2.89 m, a gross tonnage of 1255.25, and a service speed of . Due to the number of tidal currents which meet off Land's End, and the need for a shallow draught to allow access to the Islands, the sea journey can be rough, causing sea sickness (leading to the ship being nicknamed "The Sicklonian", "The Big White Stomach Pump" or alternatively, the "Vomit Vessel"). For this reason the ship is fitted with a "Flume" antiroll stabiliser system. The ship is also designed to have a shallow draft and can sit on the seabed when there is insufficient water.〔(Cornwall Council ) ''St Mary’s and Penzance Harbours'' Scheme Update August 2014〕 The ''Scillonian III'' is currently in service for passengers and cargo 8 months of the year, carrying up to 485 passengers (the current licensed limit)〔 for day trips or longer holidays to the Islands. As a preferred means of transport between Scilly and the mainland, she is a familiar sight in Penzance and St Mary's - often photographed by tourists and also featured in the BBC series, ''An Island Parish''. In 1998, faced with the cost of building a new ship, the Company decided to give ''Scillonian III'' a major refit, during which over 50 tons of steel were used to increase the standard of the ship. The ship also had 3 new generators and a new bow thruster fitted. The cost of this was £1.7 million.〔 In early 2007, press reports indicated that Cornwall County Council was expected to approve plans for the construction of a new ro-ro ferry at a cost of £17.5 million. This vessel would be leased to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and would replace both ''Scillonian III'' and ''Gry Maritha''. The scheme subsequently collapsed.〔(Isles of Scilly ferry link: £4m spent on failed scheme, July 2011. )〕 During the winter of 2012-13 the ship underwent an overhaul which refurbished the passenger accommodation and also extended the ship's service life to 2018.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「RMV Scillonian III」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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