Celebrations for 50 years of Isle of Sark Shipping
ISLE of Sark Shipping is this month celebrating 50 years of service to the island.
In operation since 1969, the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd, owned by the island, is the only year-round lifeline passenger and cargo service from the island to Guernsey.
Managing director of the company Yan Milner said the celebrations had being going well, with a number of events happening to commemorate the occasion.
‘We received a vin d’honneur in Sark as a vote of thanks from the island, so that was great.
‘Then to celebrate with the islanders, we gave Sark schoolchildren a round-island trip, as well as giving the adults a tour,’ he said.
‘It’s not usual for us to do this, but it was for a special occasion, being our 50th anniversary.
‘It was thoroughly enjoyed by all, a good day filled with cake and prosecco for the adults.
‘Though I must say, just like the Queen, we actually have two birthdays, because although we were founded on 10 June 1969 by Peter Drake after Commodore stopped doing the service, it wasn’t until we could source a boat that we started. So, we actually only started operating in October that same year.’
He added: ‘We’re not certain what date in October to be honest that we started operating exactly, but we are keen to find out.
‘Then we will also do something quirky to celebrate that birthday.’
The nine-mile journey between Maseline Harbour in Sark and St Peter Port harbour takes about 55 minutes.
The majority of the 45,000 return passengers carried by the operator each year are visitors travelling to and from Sark, with the main tourist season running from April to October. Regular passenger and cargo services continue to operate during the winter months, enabling both visitors and residents to travel to and from Sark all year round.
n The Isle of Sark Shipping is creating a commemorative booklet to celebrate their 50th birthday with stories or photographs from residents and visitors to be submitted before the end of August. Any contributions included in the booklet will then receive a complimentary ticket to or from Sark and a copy of the booklet. For more information, go to https://www.sarkshipping.gg/news/serving-sark-for-50-years.
