Menawethan
Travel aboard Menawethan giving you more choices to fit around your travel plans and needs.
Onboard facilities
Menawethan has been designed to make your journey comfortable and enjoyable. On board, you’ll find a dedicated passenger lounge with comfortable seating and a refreshment station – the perfect place to relax, enjoy the views and settle in during your crossing.
Travel information
Everything you need to know for travelling on Menawethan
On board Menawethan there is a dedicated luggage rack.
Hold luggage
- Allowance per person: 1 piece
- Maximum size: 85 cm × 60 cm × 40 cm
- Maximum weight: 20kg
Please note:
- You must be able to lift your own luggage on and off the luggage rack and vessel.
- Luggage may be placed in a container or in the hold depending on the number of passengers and luggage carried.
- Non-standard luggage bags can be difficult to store on board, it is appreciated if luggage is of standard bag type.
- For the health and safety of our employees, no single item of luggage may weigh more than 20kg. Luggage exceeding this limit, or any non-standard items, must be declared at the time of booking and may need to be booked as freight.
- Any luggage that exceeds your allowance must be booked and paid for ahead of travel. Failure to book in advance may result in your luggage being refused.
- The vessel Master reserves the right to search luggage for the purposes of vessel security.
Hand luggage
- Maximum weight: 5kg
- Allowance per person: 1 piece
- Maximum size: 40 cm × 55 cm × 20 cm
Dangerous goods
No dangerous goods are to be carried on board Menawethan.
Identification
We will need to see proof of identity before boarding. Please ensure that you have your photo ID and confirmation ticket or boarding passes to hand.
Check-in times
We ask all passengers to be at the designated check-in point 20 minutes before the advised departure time.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any refunds or credit if you are late.
Meeting point on St Mary’s
Passengers checking-in on St Mary’s should wait in front of the harbour office, by the Scillonian check-in desk, for a staff member to meet them.
Meeting points in Penzance
Passengers checking-in and departing from Penzance should wait at either of the two meeting points highlighted below, depending on the vessel departure time.
- Departure during office hours (08:00 – 16:00): The Isles of Scilly Freight office.
- Departure outside of office hours: In front of the ranks building.

Please note that this is a working quay, and care should be taken to follow the designated footpaths to the meeting points.
The journey time on Menawethan is approximately 4-5 hours.
Journey times can be extended so it is advisable that you are in good health with no underlying health conditions or current injuries.
Please be aware that due to factors beyond our control, and to ensure the safety of all persons, the Master may have to take the difficult decision to restrict or cancel the carriage of passengers.
Embarking and disembarking safely
Please be aware when embarking and disembarking Menawethan it may involve having to climb ship and quay ladders.
We would like to remind passengers that Menawethan is a working freight vessel.
Journey times can be extended so it is advisable that you are in good health with no underlying health conditions or current injuries.
Passengers who are clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to travel.
Unaccompanied minors
Passengers aged 12 to 15 in need of essential travel are welcome to travel on our freight vessels as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Passengers under the age of 12 years old cannot travel on Menawethan.
Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers, 28 weeks and over, are not permitted to travel on Menawethan.
Those under 28 weeks may travel, but the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis under the discretion of the Master.
Special assistance
In the interest of safety, we advise that passengers wishing to travel on Menawethan do not have any mobility issues including injuries.
For passengers who need a little extra help, we’ll do everything we can to offer advice prior to travelling on board Menawethan. If you have any queries or special requirements, or would like to discuss your requirements, please call us at least 48 hours prior to your departure time on 01736 334220.
Pets
Pets cannot be carried on Menawethan.
Suitable clothing
Please ensure you have suitable and appropriate clothing and footwear for your journey, particularly in cold or wet weather conditions. Surfaces may become slippery during wet weather or rough seas, so appropriate footwear is strongly recommended throughout the journey.
During your time onboard, access is restricted to designated passenger areas only. Please do not enter cargo spaces, working decks, machinery spaces, or any area marked “Crew Only” unless a crew member directs you.
Facilities
A toilet is available through the door on the left-hand side of the passenger lounge.
Food and drink
Tea and coffee facilities may be available during the journey, subject to weather and operational conditions; please follow crew guidance when collecting hot drinks.
We advise passengers to bring their own snacks.
Cooking facilities are not available for passenger use on board.
Waste
Please dispose of any waste in the bins onboard, and nothing should be thrown overboard.
Smoking, vaping and alcohol
Menawethan is a non-smoking and non-vaping vessel, and we ask that alcohol or drugs are not consumed onboard.
Passengers who are clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to travel.
Motion sickness
If you are susceptible to motion sickness, please ensure that you take the necessary precautions. Motion sickness medication is not available on board the ship.
For further information on motion sickness, please visit: NHS motion sickness
WI-FI
Free WI-FI is available on board Menawethan however during the crossing the WI-FI connection may be intermittent or not available.
Reporting
If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right, or have any concerns at all, please let a crew member know straight away. They’re here to help and happy to answer any questions during the journey.
Emergency procedure
If one does occur, you’ll hear the general alarm signal: at least seven short blasts followed by one long blast on the vessel’s whistle or alarm system, like this:
Alarm signal, seven short blasts followed by one long blast
If you hear this signal, please remain calm and follow crew instructions immediately.
Make your way to your muster station in the passenger lounge.
Put on warm clothing, bring any essential medication, and please do not return to collect luggage or personal belongings.
Life jackets
Life jackets are stored within the passenger lounge. To put on a life jacket, open the straps, and put on like a jacket. Put the sides together, and bring the straps around your waist and clip the buckle together. Tighten so the life jacket is fitted firmly. Your life jacket has a whistle attached for attracting attention, and a light that activates automatically when it makes contact with water.
Abandon ship
In the unlikely event that we need to abandon the vessel, life-saving equipment is carried for everyone onboard, including children, and the crew will direct you to the embarkation area.
When we arrive, please remain in the passenger lounge until a crew member confirms it’s safe to disembark, and take care when using gangways and access arrangements ashore.
On occasion Menawethan will arrive in the early/late hours, so pre-arranging onward travel is required.
Please be aware that due to factors beyond our control, and to ensure the safety of all persons, the Master may have to take the difficult decision to restrict or cancel the carriage of passengers.
In the event of needing to amend or cancel your booking, please take the time to familiarise yourself with our amendments and cancellations policy, which can be found online at: Terms & conditions
If there’s anything you’re not sure about, please feel free to call our travel centre on 01736 334220.