Ships' mechanical failures lead to empty shelves

3 hours ago

Lisa Young,Cornwalland

David Dixon,Penzance

News image — There have been empty shelves at the Co-op on St Mary's after the freight service was delayed

BBC A large unit of green baskets which are all empty in the Co-op in St Mary's. There is an empty display headed EASTER and there are buckets of flowers. — There have been empty shelves at the Co-op on St Mary's after the freight service was delayed

There are food supply issues in the Isles of Scilly after problems with the freight passenger ships.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group apologised for the delay after a compass failure on the Gry Maritha freight vessel led to a 24-hour delay to the service on 1 April leading to empty shelves in the Co-op in St Mary's - the only supermarket on the islands.

On Thursday the passenger ferry Scillionian III was taken out of service after a malfunction of its starboard engine.

Stuart Reid, chief executive officer of the group, said the Scillonian would return to service on Monday and all passengers had been refunded or had journeys rescheduled.

Stuart Reid is standing n the quay on Penzance. He is weering a high-viz jacket over a shirt and tie. He has a blad head and beard and is smiling. Behind him a church is across the water and there are boats tethered to the quay. — Stuart Reid said freight had resumed on 2 April via the Scillonian III

In December, Gry Maritha suffered damage to its windlass shaft and Reid said a new one was being made, but on1 April a fault had been found with the compass.

Reid said: "Originally, before the Gry was brought in in 1989, the Scillonian was the only vessel carrying freight to the islands, so it's almost reverting back to that position."

The Visit Isles of Scilly chairman Andrew Snell wrote to the group's management team on 2 April: "I know that you will come up with a list of excuses or explanations and promises of a better tomorrow, but what about the visitors and residents who wish to shop today for the weekend?

"I really do think it is unacceptable."

After the issue with the Gry, Reid said freight had been resumed on 2 April and the Co-op's shelves had subsequently been refilled.

He said: "We do have a considerable amount of regulars going out to the Scillies so they are aware of those challenges.

"The restaurants and the hotels understand this, they have deep freezers and they change the menus to put on meals which they have the sort of available ingredients for."