Having secured additional funding from the Department for Transport to ensure inter-island boat services are maintained over this winter, the Council sought tenders from local boat operators to provide these services. Unfortunately, due to the prices it received, it was not possible for the Council to appoint any operators to provide these services.
In light of the small number of operators which could potentially provide these services over the winter, the Council reduced the requirement for minimum vessel size and introduced a range of different service options which operators could submit tenders to operate.
In response to these changes, the Council received a new tender for the St Agnes to St Mary’s service which is currently being assessed. It is anticipated that subject to the successful completion of the tender clarification process, the Council will be able to appoint an operator very shortly to provide this service over the winter. In the interim, the current service will continue to operate as normal.
No tenders were submitted to operate the service between St Martin’s and St Mary’s. The Council are working with a potential operator to deliver a service to cover this winter, however, this will take a couple more weeks to get the details and arrangements in place. Therefore, the Council has put interim arrangements in place with two operators to ensure services can continue to be provided for the next 2 weeks, albeit with limitations on the number of passengers which can be carried, whilst a solution is found for the rest of the winter period. Details of the services which will be provided over the next two weeks are:
Secondary School Transport & Saturday Clubs
Raptor/Falcon boating operators
Monday 02 November 2026
08:00 from Higher Town
Friday 06 November 2026
15:45 to Higher Town
Saturday 07 November 2026
9:30 from Lower Town
11:30 from Higher Town
13:00 to Higher Town
15:30 to Higher Town
Monday 09 November 2026
08:00 from Higher Town
Friday 13 November 2026
15:45 to Higher Town
Saturday 14 November 2026
9:30 from Higher Town
11:30 from Higher Town
13:00 to Lower Town
15:40 to Higher Town
Boating for St Martins residents between Monday 02 November 2026 until Friday 13 November 2026
Subject to change depending on tide; sea conditions and weather
All times are approximate and subject to change.
Tresco Boats boating operator. To book a seat on the BELOW boating for St Martin's residents, please contact trescoboats@tresco.co.uk
Monday:
- 1 x trip for 12 pax to St Mary’s 10 am ish returning 1pm ish
Tuesday: (this may not be possible Tuesday 03 November as due to a power outage we are using the Firethorn to take Tresco residents and guests to St Mary’s until power back on)
- We have 4 x Early Years to go to St Mary’s approx. 09.15 and back at 2.30 8 x seats available
Wednesday:
- We have 4 x Early Years approximately 9am to Tresco and return at 3.30 – there are 8 seats available – this boat can go to St Mary’s (via Tresco) and return at 3.30 from Tresco – via St Mary’s for 3.45.
Thursday:
- We have 4 x Early Years approximately 09.00 to Tresco and return at 3.30 (via St Mary’s). We also have 4 x Early Years going via Tresco and onto St Mary’s, returning at 3.45 – there are 4 seats available either to Tresco or St Mary’s
Friday:
- 1 x trip for 12 pax to St Mary’s 10 am ish returning 1pm ish