UK designer BMT has been tasked with the renewal of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) fleet.
The Cornwall-based shipowner currently runs the 1,350-gt ropax Scillonian III (built 1977) and the 528-dwt pallet carrier Gry Maritha (built 1981) between the UK mainland and the Scilly islands.
BMT will provide vessel design and consultancy services to develop the next generation of lifeline ships for passengers and freight.
The design group said it will be working "hand-in-hand" with the local community through public consultations to come up with blueprints.
Noel Tomlinson, business development director for specialised ship design at BMT, said: "Our highly-skilled team at BMT are thrilled to be working with ISSG on greener, more efficient vessel designs.
"The designs will maximise passenger and crew comfort, will be capable of operating in the challenging conditions of the Atlantic ocean route, whilst meeting all existing and known future regulatory requirements. In addition, the new designs will be optimised to meet the unique requirements of the UK mainland and island ports."
The iconic Scillonian III is the third in a series of ships that began serving the islands in 1926. It is the longest-serving of them all.
BMT has pioneered the design and development of purpose-built passenger ferries since the early 1980.
Stuart Reid, ISSG chief executive, said: "BMT have world-class naval architecture and engineering experience and we’re delighted to have them on board as we start to shape our asset replacement programme to meet the needs of the islands’ community and visitors to Scilly.
"We are consulting islanders and key stakeholders about what sort of marine service they would like to see in the future, and BMT are working with us on translating this into concept designs."
