Cross-Solent operator Red Funnel has had to suspend all vehicle ferry sailings ‘until further notice’ due to a linkspan failure in East Cowes tonight (Sunday).
The issue first arose at around 21:30 with news came in that a technical issue was halting operations on the other side of the Solent in East Cowes, just as the 22:00 from Southampton sailing was boarding. Engineers soon realised the issue was a major one and, as a result, Red Funnel has had to suspend all ferry sailings ‘until further notice’. It is unclear as to just how the issue arose or how long it will take to fix. So far all the listed car ferry sailings up until 09:30 tomorrow (at the time of publication) have been cancelled. Vehicles are currently unable to embark or disembark at the East Cowes terminal as a result. Whilst the technical error may not affect a large number of public customers due to the time of day, it will have knock-on effect in terms of goods being delivered to the Island overnight. Red Funnel has apologised for any inconvenience caused. An update is expected at around 09:00 tomorrow morning (Monday). UPDATE MONDAY @ 06:20 – Red Funnel’s ferry services remain suspended this morning, causing major disruption. It’s hoped that crossings between East Cowes and Southampton will resume by midday today, but there are no guarantees. As it stands, the following ferries have been cancelled today: From East Cowes: 06:30, 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30 and 11:30 From Southampton: 06:00, 07:00, 08:09, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 UPDATE @ 09:33 – An update from Red Funnel has not been forthcoming, with no statement issued in respect of the ongoing disruption. It appears that ferries for the remainder of this morning and this afternoon have all been cancelled. UPDATE @ 12:04 – Red Funnel says that its service is to remain suspended for ‘much of today’. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/red-funnels-suspension-of-service-to-continue-for-much-of-today/.
Will Red Funnel be paying for the customers
they have let down to stay in overnight accommodation.
According to their website (https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/service-disruption-claims) they should give compensation (which may be a bottle of water!) and, if an overnight stay is involved, pay up to £70 per passenger per night for up to 3 nights.
Unless, of course, they decide to invoke the exclusion clause by claiming that mechanical failure is “beyond their control”. Which is a somewhat dubious claim to say the least, given their legal and commercial obligations to monitor and maintain the condition of the linkspan equipment.
Text info from red funnel states:
Red Funnel Vehicle Ferry is suspended until 12:00 15/7/24 due to a technical issue with the East Cowes Linkspan. A further update will be provided at 0900 15/7/24. Please seek alternative travel arrangements. We apologise for this invonvenience.
I have no words left… Imagine if you’ve a plane to catch??? Or ferry to France.. Unbelievable
Or a hospital appointment …
be careful if you decided to rebook on the red jet as had a system error it took the payment 3 times.
Richard Quigley? Still waiting
FFS,.. he’s only been in the job a couple of weeks.
his predecesor, half-sausage-seely had years & year & did absolutely nothing
He will only help migrants,true labour!
This is what happens when thing’s are made complicated and money diverted to shareholders,where is back up ferry that doesn’t need link span ?. Remember the day’s when ferry could dock either way and maybe reverse off/turn round. What would of happened to those on board if had been last ferry and staff in Southampton gone home?. Hopefully customers on board were given free travel on Wightlink and compensation
“where is back up ferry that doesn’t need link span ?”
Mmmm.. I’m not sure you understand how docking a ferry works ??
Investment, investment, lack of investment. But what can they do when the parent company syphons off funds to go elsewhere.
Red funnel, the gift that keeps on giving. We need Bob back now. He would have had this sorted with a letter. BRING BACK BOB.
Maybe they should invest some of their profits into a planned maintenance regime rather than adopt a ‘we’ll fix it when it fails’ culture?
Ok Labour, show us what you’re made off. Fix this, you got 100 days. Else the only vote islands will have is the left green party (god help us) as they are the only ones that want to bring it into public hands again. Back to the time it all worked.
Not to worry, better get used to it as the unions will be on strike soon so we won’t be going anywhere.
It’s about time we had a bridge
Oh don’t upset the natives, they think they live in a special place.
Special is the right term but not in a joyous manner lol
Yes we do. The point is, though, that a bridge isn’t feasible. If you have spare time to look through all the historically unsuitable plans for a bridge to date, be my guest.
Exactly “historically” in other words outdated technology. I will agree that economicly it is not feasible whilst decent businesses and industries don’t think its worth moving to the island with its apathy syndrome. How is the island special when there are more attractive places on the mainland eg The Cotwolds or Berkshire etc, the list goes on. Perhaps if locals looked to the future things would improve.
Why cant they still run but just use the lower deck…
The Linkspan serves both decks – so if its not working then how can it service the lower deck?
Ah, that would require thought, initiative, common sense. All sadly lacking in the RF boardroom. Yet not running ferries that are booked below economic capacity saves money, and where does that go?
They’re cancelling later sailings too – A colleague had notification through that their 13:30 booking has been cancelled. The live service status is showing all sailings until 4pm cancelled (probably more, that’s just where the status ends)
Apparently RF are also telling people their bookings will be honoured by Wightlink – They aren’t, and Wightlink (who are fully booked) claim to know nothing about the arrangement.
Seems crazy that a single hydraulic failure can cause this much disruption.
There’s a nice big, car carrying, hovercraft sitting in a museum over there. That could solve a few problems!
The hydraulics on the link span have seized, so if the ramp was in high position for a high tide, and now there is a low tide the ferry would not be able to Dock as the ramp could not match the ferry deck or visa versa
Surely a squirt or two of WD-40 would free it?
Likely just a bit of rust from all the rain, or a barnacle stuck to the shaft.
For the record, WD-40 (the WD stands for “water displacement”) is NOT a lubricant, it is intended to reduce the growth of air/water-induced corrosion.
If tyou use it as a lubricant, it eventually just goes sticky and you are back where you started but with muck to clean off first.
to quote WD-40
“WD-40® Multi-Use Product protects metal from rust and corrosion, penetrates stuck parts, displaces moisture and lubricates almost anything.”
(I think, that as they make it, they probably know better that you)
We should have agreed to a bridge decades ago.
As this is happening is it not obvious that everything is going wrong with Red Funnel due to the lack of shares that the ex politician Bob Sealey was getting and now is not getting but he was providing the island with Red Funnel at the time was working when he was elected as the politician on the island.
As we all know (maybe some know) that he had shares from this company and as he’s not in charge everything has been cancelled or let down. (crumbled)
But as we now have a new politician all of this is going to pot.