The ship was ordered on 18 March 1954 at a contract price of £250,000 (equivalent to £ as of ), planned as a replacement for the first
Scillonian which had been in continuous service since 1926. The new ship was laid down on 25 March 1955, completed on 15 November 1955 and christened by
the Duchess of Gloucester. The second
Scillonian was powered by two 6-cylinder
four-stroke diesel engines (manufactured by
Ruston & Hornsby) which propelled two three-blade screws, giving the ship a maximum speed of 15.5 knots. Like her predecessor, the second
Scillonian operated mainly between the Isles of Scilly and Penzance, although she sometimes diverted to
Falmouth or
St Ives in bad weather. A frequent traveller aboard the ship was
Harold Wilson who had a holiday home in the Isles of Scilly. Between 1964 and 1966 she was joined on her route by the
Queen of the Isles.
Scillonian was eventually replaced by
Scillonian III in May 1977, and was sold to
P & A Campbell. ==Later history==