Red Funnel has announced a number of late night and early morning ferry cancellations whilst work is carried out at its East Cowes terminal between 13th January and 12th February 2025.
The planned activity includes general maintenance and life extension work to the concrete slipway that meets the linkspan, as well as the replacement of the linkspan’s hinges and fingers, which connect it to the concrete slipway.
Starting from 18th Jan, the project will necessitate temporarily pausing late night ferry traffic coming in and out of East Cowes on select dates, whereby the 23:55 crossing from Southampton and the 01:30 crossing from East Cowes will be removed.
Leanne Lakes, the current Red Funnel’s Operations Director, says:
“As the planned works involve the replacement of the section that connects the linkspan to the shore, we have no choice but to temporarily pause our vehicle ferry operation. This maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity of the East Cowes linkspan and support the continuity of our lifeline service to the Island.
By working with our contractors to schedule the work at night, when demand is at its lowest, we will minimise disruption to our customers.
“We thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we undertake this important upgrade to our infrastructure.”
To enable the works, the following crossings will be removed:
- Departing Southampton, 23:55
- 18th, 19th, 20th, 21th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th January
- 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th February
- Departing East Cowes, 01:30
- 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th January
- 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th February
Red Funnel will be in touch with those customers who are currently booked on the impacted crossings.

































































































Nothing new then…
If the company is going under, what’s the point
carrying out the works.