Foggy conditions on the Solent have resulted in Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry service being halted this morning (Tuesday).
The 07:30 Red Falcon from East Cowes has been unable to leave the dock due to the restricted visibility – abiding by strict rules imposed by Cowes Harbour Commission.
As a result, those heading to the mainland have been left stranded in East Cowes. Meanwhile, other passengers heading to the Isle of Wight on board Red Osprey are bobbing around at sea just off Cowes.
It is unclear when services will be able to resume with the situation all down to the weather.
Red Funnel says it expects that sailings throughout the day will be impacted by this morning’s disruption.
It has not been a good morning for Red Funnel with yet more cancellations on the hi-speed Red Jet service.
Wightlink is also experiencing some delays this morning on its Yarmouth-Lymington car ferry service.
UPDATE @ 09:35 – Red Funnel has confirmed that its vehicle ferry service is suspended until further notice.
UPDATE @ 11:30 – Services have resumed as a result of the fog living, however, passengers face delays of up to 90mins due to this earlier disruption.
Red Funnel is advising passengers to still arrive as normal for their booked sailings as staff are working to reduce delays.
But if they can still run the red falcon then they should run the red osprey
The restrictions stopping Red Funnel car ferries are imposed by Cowes Harbour Authority, in the Medina estuary only within harbour limits. Osprey wasn’t allowed to leave East Cowes, Falcon not allowed to enter harbour. Let’s not forget that it was Red Funnel who brought these restrictions about for parking one of the ferries on East Cowes promenade during thick fog. If the pilot is a good one, they don’t need vision to navigate. Sadly, the fog mishap was due to poor piloting. So before anyone says you can’t blame the weather, just remember how many years prior the ferries docked safely in thick fog, they still could if Red Funnel hadn’t blown it with one rubbish “pilot”.
yes but surely we can move on and reintroduce it
omg i hope no one has missed urgent hospital appointments or any other important commitments . We need a fixed link to stop all this nonsense and no “if i dont like it move to the mainland” comments, im a born and bred islander going back generations but im intelligent enough to see that progress is needed for our dying isle
If not a fixed link then massive improvements need to be made to these ferry companies. Or perhaps the ferry companies should be in public ownership so they are far better regulated.
That is the better choice, but while we’re ruled by the mafia of Whitehall will never happen, which ever family is in power. Fixed link is currently the only option to fix this. I don’t want one but can’t see any other choice.
There is a choice, retain the ferries.
ferries break down, get short staffed, held up by bad weather… regulated ferries would not be much better… we need a TUNNEL… no breakdowns, weather would not matter, cross anytime day or night, NO BOOKING… and a lot cheaper.
As much as I’m all for a tunnel, you’re over selling it. The tunnel would bring issues of its own. You really think with these current driving standards that nobody is going to have an accident? That could close the tunnel all day. Vehicles don’t break down? A vehicle fire would close it for some time too. Both scenarios offering much greater risk to those then stuck in the tunnel than if it were on an open stretch of road. It’s not a cure all solution, it too has a lot of pros and cons to fully understand.
Tunnel = np breakdowns. What about an accident in the tunnel or a broken down vehicle? And I doubt it would be cheaper. Plus it would completely destroy our island.
Sorry, why is this the ferry company’s fault?
Not intelligent enough for spelling and grammar obviously.
Small penis jonathan ?
Prat – nothing better to commit on?
nothing constructive to contribute then?
And a pantechnican breaks down in the middle, bringing all trafic to a grinding halt. Fat lot of good a bridge/tunnel would be. And it would be a toll road able to charge what it likes because there would be no competition.
Where the restrictions placed on RF not put in place following a number of collisions/near misses? Also, has the approach to Cowes been compromised by the nice shiny breakwater put there by the harbour commisioners?
I used to live in Cowes and remember many thick fog days, I would sit there near the Fort, and hear the ferry coming, then all of a sudden there it would be big as life… I thought it was amazing… But I also know, FOG does not stop RADAR.. or a compass… and excuse me but what are FOG HORNS for ???
So many negative people on here… Why do they not want a fixed link I wonder…
They do not want one because they probably never leave the confines of their front door, let alone venturing to the mainland
This council can’t even build a bridge across the Medina. Judging by the regular car crashes here, wouldn’t a fixed link suffer similarly?
One word: BRIDGE. When will people understand that a bridge would be a positive thing for the island, and the mainland.
why its NEVER going to happen give it up
20 years ago never had this crap operated in all conditions makes you laugh with the latest radar etc..what a joke