A new cross-Solent passenger service to compete with Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel could be on the horizon as Hampshire-based Fluid.taxi looks to expand its existing water-based taxi service. The company, which has been operating in the Solent area since 2009, is set to make some big announcements in the coming weeks as it eyes up running a scheduled passenger service to and from the Isle of Wight, between Yarmouth and Lymington. Fluid.taxi operates a fleet of Cheetah catamarans built on the Isle of Wight by Ventnor-based Cheetah Marine. The business currently offers private charters for transfers to The Hut in Colwell and the Isle of Wight Festival. But from July, it is hoped that a regular, scheduled service can be formed using battery-powered vessels. The proposed route will take foot passengers to and from Yarmouth on a 25-minute crossing which will be ‘competitively priced’. Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely recently met with the firm to hear about their plans, encouraging them to start competing with the cross-Solent giants. 
“Introducing new services will not change things overnight, but it will start to offer people a choice from the services offered by Wightlink and Red Funnel. “Over the past 20 years, Red Funnel and Wightlink services have become slower, less frequent, less reliable and more expensive. They are letting Islanders down. Part of the answer to a better deal could be regulation, but equally it would be encouraging new services. “I met with Fluid.taxi recently to hear more about their exciting plans, using battery-powered vessels made on the Isle of Wight. They will be unveiling exciting announcements in the coming weeks. “There are several new services trying to start on different cross-Solent routes. I wish them all well. For the Cowes route, I will be contacting Associated British Ports and the Cowes Harbour Commission. They need to be supporting new services.”
A spokesperson for Fluid.taxi said:
“We have been offering an on-demand water-based taxi service in the Solent area since 2009. “Now, we are really excited to be in a position to expand our services further. Look out for announcements soon.”
Island Echo readers will remember a similar idea from Scoot Ferries back in 2015, with 2 services operating between Yarmouth-Lymington and Cowes-Portsmouth for a short time. But the firm went belly up in December 2015 following the withdrawal of support from investors the previous month.
It’s about time the ferry & hovercraft firm’s,had some competition, I hope the new firm do well..
Good to have competition but this really needs to go to Soton or Pompey. There isn’t much to do in Lymington, nor does it have the same level of national coach/train connections.
Nothing will come of it..and shitelink and dead funnel would’nt give a crap..
He says driving a car giving him cancer from petrol fumes (hopefuly)
“Over the past 20 years, Red Funnel and Wightlink services have become slower, less frequent, less reliable and more expensive”
And who is responsible for that Bob??? You been running the joint for the last 14 years, only you can fix it. And you can’t blame the councils this time around. Public transport needs to be in public hands. Only way that it’ll serve the people and it’s the best way to reduce the carbon footprint of travel. But that is too left wing for you and how could your mates make more money if they can’t exploit the people.
Doomed from the startif Dr Seely is supporting it. And of course what we really need is competiion on the Southampton and Portsmouth routes, where Seely is all mouth and no action.
Sounded really good until I read “battery” why just why! What could possibly go wrong! Why is every one falling for this green rubbish!
Lost me at taxi. Yeah thatll be cheap!
Been tried and tested before but failed on that route. What amazing USP are they coming up with.
Go Bob! Someone else does something and you jump on the bandwagon for a photo opp. Well done.
Good news for those who live that side of the island and/or perhaps need to travel westawards; but of no use for those who live in Ryde or East Wight and need to go to Portsmouth or eastwards!
Sideshow Bob loves getting a good photo opportunity, bloody useless at everything else
Bob is just another Lockdown breaking Tory
Dr Seely,
Rather than trumpeting relatively trivial stuff, how about encouraging your government, as its swansong, to make reparations to those affected by the Post Office Horizon and tainted blood disasters or is the Tory plan to leave that for the Labour government to deal with next year?
Good to have some competition for foot passengers but most people drive cars from and to the island, Wightlink want over £400 to travel next Friday for a long weekend, scandalous! desperately need legislation to keep costs affordable. Bob Seely???
Will never happen, build a bridge
F.F.S
Needs to run from Cowes to Southampton and Portsmouth as an alternative to the shite non-service not run by Red F**kup.