Meet Ben Jenkins, Manager of St Mary’s Quay and Senior Skipper of our workboats

From merchant navy cadet to leading the daily operations at St Mary’s Quay, Ben Jenkins has built a career shaped by practical skill and a deep connection to the Isles of Scilly. Now serving as both Quay Manager and Senior Skipper of our workboats, Ben gives us a glimpse into his world

How long have you been part of Isles of Scilly Steamship Group?

I joined the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group in November 2018 as an assistant launch Skipper, before progressing to launch skipper the following year. As our fleet expanded with the introduction of our landing craft Gugh, I was promoted to senior workboat skipper in June 2024. Most recently, I’ve also taken on the management of St Mary’s Quay in addition to my skippering role.

What experience did you have before joining?

Before joining the Steamship Group, I was working on local passenger vessels around the islands, after returning from my time as a cadet in the merchant navy.

During this time, I travelled all over the northern hemisphere from Europe to Asia and across the Pacific to the west coast of America. I learnt good foundations in navigation and seamanship. I left the merchant navy and returned to the Isles of Scilly because the work on the larger vessels wasn’t as interesting as working on small workboats. You have to be a lot more hands on with workboats which requires practical skills, which I enjoy.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love skippering the workboat. There’s something incredibly satisfying about being out on the water, especially on a flat summer’s day, delivering freight between the islands. Those calm days remind you why you do the job – it’s hard to beat the scenery.

It’s also satisfying being out in the winter when the conditions are more challenging. You can put your boat handling and vessel crane operation skills to the test.

What do you find the most challenging aspect of your role?

There are so many moving parts in the freight system across the islands and trying to make them all work together smoothly can be a real challenge. Plans often need to change at short notice because of external factors, especially the weather — winter can be particularly unpredictable.

Could you share a memorable moment?

One of my memorable moments was collecting Gugh from Dartmouth and skippering her on her maiden voyage to Penzance and then on to the Isles of Scilly. It took around 12 hours and the conditions were perfect. Bringing a new vessel home and being responsible for her first passage was a proud moment.

What does a typical day look like for you?

No two days are the same, but generally it’s a mix of managing operations from the office, being hands on with freight operations on the quay or heading out on the water delivering freight on one of our workboats. It’s a role that keeps me active, involved, and constantly switching between practical work and coordination.