Who we are
We are a family-run business based on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, proudly operated by myself, Ryan, with the support and oversight of my wife, Lizzie. As a local maritime pilot, Lizzie brings a wealth of nautical expertise to our work, and together we are deeply passionate about island life and the sea that surrounds us.
I’ve been working on the water for over 15 years, gaining a broad range of experience across the maritime industry. In addition to operating passenger boats, I’ve spent five years working as a commercial diver around the islands and have also skippered workboats and supported the inter-island freight service as a bank skipper. I’m experienced with a wide variety of vessels, including single and twin-screw inboards, outboards, and jet-drive boats.
To support this work, I hold a MCA Boatmasters Licence, all four of the Isles of Scilly’s local knowledge licences, and the full range of relevant ancillary qualifications, including the RYA/MCA Powerboat Advanced Certificate of Competence. This mix of local insight and professional training allows me to provide a safe, dependable service tailored to both residents and visitors alike.
Our business is rooted in our shared love for the water and the community we call home. We take great pride in offering a service that reflects our values—reliability, safety, and a genuine connection to the islands. To support the daily running of Seahorse, we also employ a dedicated crew member based on St Mary’s, ensuring we can consistently deliver a high standard of service.
Above all, we hope to pass on our passion for the sea to our children, raising them in the unique and inspiring environment of the Isles of Scilly.
The boat
Seahorse is a 58-foot custom-built passenger ferry, constructed right here on St Mary’s in 1997 by renowned local boatbuilder Peter Martin. She holds the distinction of being the last passenger vessel built on the Isles of Scilly.
She carries three operating licences:
Class 6 – for up to 100 passengers and 2 crew (daylight hours, April to October)
Class 6(A) – for up to 50 passengers and 2 crew (during hours of darkness and winter months)
SCV Category C – for up to 12 passengers and 2 crew (offshore, up to 20 miles year-round)
With a draught of 1.3 metres, Seahorse features a traditionally constructed timber hull (larch on oak) paired with an aluminium superstructure. She is fully subdivided and fully compliant with current MCA regulations.
Cruising comfortably at 8.5 knots with a top speed of 10 knots, Seahorse offers both a spacious enclosed saloon and generous open deck space, providing flexibility for a variety of trips and conditions. Her low freeboard design allows for smooth and safe transfers to tenders and platforms.
Equipped with a full suite of modern navigation and control systems—including Raymarine radar, AIS, sonar, autopilot, twin VHFs, Kobelt steering gear, and electronic throttles—Seahorse is built for safe and efficient operation in a wide range of conditions. A high helm position offers excellent visibility for close-quarters work, while her twin 10.5-litre Gardner 6LXB engines provide both strong performance and high manoeuvrability in challenging wind and tidal conditions.
