The Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd is owned by the island of Sark and has operated the year-round lifeline Passenger and Freight service between Guernsey and Sark since 1969. There is no airport on Sark therefore the only link to and from Sark is by sea. Being 9 miles apart, the journey between Guernsey and Sark takes approximately 55 minutes and operates year-round during daylight hours.
The majority of the 45,000 return passengers carried on our vessels each year are visitors travelling to and from Sark. The main tourist season runs from April to October but a regular passenger service continues to operate during the winter months, enabling both visitors and residents to continue travelling to and from Sark.
The Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd currently owns three passenger vessels plus one freight vessel. The passenger vessel 'Bon Marin de Serk ' was commissioned by the company and has a steel mono hull with aluminium superstructure. She has been in operation since 1983, has a gross tonnage of 118.40, an overall length of 20.6 metres and beam of 6.15 metres carrying 131 passengers in the summer, 98 passengers in the winter and is powered by two Volvo Penta 700 hp diesel engines.
The company’s second passenger vessel is the 'Sark Venture' which was built in 1985 and after being purchased by the Isle of Sark Shipping Co Ltd underwent a complete refit and conversion in 1993. Completion of the refit enables the Sark Venture to carry out a dual role of either passenger vessel carrying 122 passengers in the summer and 98 passengers in the winter, or freight vessel carrying 45 tons of freight plus 12 fare paying passengers. She has a gross tonnage of 133.18, an overall length of 20 metres with a beam of 6 metres, is powered by two Iveco 450 hp diesel engines and operates at a speed of 10 knots. This vessel operates throughout the year.
The Company’s third passenger vessel is the ‘Sark Belle’ which was built in 1975 and was purchased by the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd in August 2011. She has a steel mono hull, a gross tonnage of 49.75, an overall length of 21.27 metres, a beam of 6.40 metres, carries 180 passengers and is powered by two Perkins Sabre diesel engines allowing her to operate at a speed of 10 knots. This vessel operates from April to October inclusive.
The Company’s fourth vessel is its dedicated freight vessel ‘Sark Viking’ which was commissioned by the Company and began services in January 2008. She has a steel hull, a gross tonnage of 103.98, an overall length of 21.24 metres with a beam of 7.66 metres, is powered by two Iveco 450 hp diesel engines allowing her to operate at a speed of 10 knots. Sark Viking carries 65 tons of freight plus 12 fare paying passengers; she operates throughout the year and carries approximately 8000 tonnes of freight between Guernsey and Sark each year.
All vessels owned by the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd are available for private charter and the company has access to a number of 12 seat high-speed passenger launches which are also available for private charter. For further details about private charters, please contact the Company Supervisor by email.
Contact details for the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Limited:
Guernsey Office
Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd.,
White Rock,
St. Peter Port,
Guernsey,
GY1 2LN
24 hour Sailing Info. Line: 12036 (Local calls only)
Sark Office
Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd.,
Harbour Office,
Sark,
GY9 0SB
Tel: +44 (0) 1481 832450
Fax: +44 (0) 1481 832567