Isles of Scilly-Inter-Island Commuter Passenger Boat Service Contract

Introduction and Procurement Background

The Council of the Isles of Scilly is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced and appropriately licensed passenger boat operator to provide a reliable Inter-Island Commuter Passenger Boat Service connecting St Martin's and St Agnes with St Mary's.

The service provides an essential lifeline between the islands and is required to support a range of Council-facilitated and concessionary travel requirements, particularly during the winter period when the frequency and availability of normal commercial inter-island services is reduced. The journeys supported through the service principally provide for:

• Early Years transport;
• Home-to-School Transport;
• Children and Young People (C&YP) travel, principally to enable participation in clubs and organised activities;
• Adult Social Care travel;
• Discretionary Concessionary Fares supported by the Council; and
• Employment-related travel, particularly for teachers and school support staff where inter-island transport is necessary to enable attendance at work.

The service also provides broader community connectivity, enabling residents to access essential services and facilities on St Mary's. Other passenger journeys outside the Council-supported service requirements may continue to be provided by operators on a commercial basis.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has provided short-term emergency funding to support the service during the 2026/27 winter period. This funding is intended to provide an interim solution for this winter only while the Council considers the longer-term requirements for sustainable inter-island connectivity.

The Contract(s) will therefore also provide an important opportunity for the Council to gather information on passenger demand, journey patterns, service reliability, operating costs and service utilisation. This evidence will help the Council understand how the revised service is being used and inform consideration of a more permanent and sustainable solution for future years.

The principal subsidised Winter Service Period is expected to run from October 2026 to 31 March 2027.

From 1 April 2027, the normal commercial summer inter-island timetable is expected to resume, and the wider winter service subsidy will cease. However, the Contract will provide for a limited Academic Year Extension Period from April to July 2027, covering only the services required to support the continuation of Early Years, Home-to-School, and associated education employment travel until the end of the academic year. The journeys and service requirements applicable during this extension period are set out in Schedule 1 – Service Specification.

The Council is therefore seeking a proportionate, flexible, reliable and dependable service which recognises the essential lifeline function of inter-island connectivity, the range of Council-supported passenger requirements and the particular commercial challenges associated with maintaining these connections during the winter period. The Contract is intended both to maintain these essential journeys in the short term and to provide the operational evidence required to inform the Council's approach to their longer-term provision.