Red Funnel has confirmed that 1 of their 3 vehicle ferries will remain out of action until at least next Thursday.
Significant queues have been forming on both sides of the Solent today (Friday) as tourists flock to the Isle of Wight for the Bank Holiday Weekend. The annual rush has been made worse by the cancellation of a number of sailings with Red Osprey out of action.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Red Osprey has been withdrawn from the East Cowes to Southampton route after a routine inspection identified defects on the vessel’s aft main engine and the Voith propulsion system.
It was initially hoped that the repairs could be completed by the end of the weekend, but now the cross-Solent operator has said the vessel will remain moored up until Thursday 3rd September.
This evening’s news means that there is likely to be continued disruption throughout the weekend including on Bank Holiday Monday and on Tuesday, when a number of tourists will be returning to the mainland.
Fran Collins, CEO, Red Funnel said:
“Following the defects noted on Red Osprey’s aft main engine and the Voith propulsion system, and subsequent withdrawal for repair, we can confirm the ship will now re-enter service on Thursday 3rd September.
“As a result, the disruption to our timetable is expected to continue through to bank holiday Monday. Our teams shore-side and on board will continue to work extremely hard to help passengers get to their destinations as quickly and as safely as possible and our customer service teams are on hand to assist with any amendments, refunds or queries.
Article continues below this advertisement “We sincerely apologise to all of our customers whose travel and holiday plans are being affected by this disruption and as before will be contacting them with the latest information about revised expected departure times, to keep them updated, and help minimise their wait times at our terminals.
Any customers wishing to amend their booking between now and the end of the Bank Holiday Weekend can do so free of charge, with no additional amendment fees. Customers wishing to cancel their booking can also do so and receive a full refund, with no added cancellation fees.
Red Funnel say they are continuing to advise all customers without a booking, regardless of which means of transport they are using, not to arrive to the vehicle ferry terminals. Measures are being taken to maximise space for private vehicle traffic aboard the vehicle ferries and utilising the freight-only ferry, Red Kestrel.
Good, perhaps most won’t ‘come back’ again.
Why would anyone.
Because for a short while yet, UNTIL Pen ny f eather and Bu llen is built and filled with the ‘worlds finest’ from main land over spill, then the Island is still, with all its faults a little better than other over built, over populated hell holes in mainland UK.
Unfortunately all that will change as we are built to ruination and filled with the most undesirables know to mankind.
Wait a decade, then judge if I am right or wrong.
Instead of waxing lyrical on a local website, why not join a political party that deals with these issues and make a real difference.
Britain First are recruiting.
It is undoubtedly going to become even bigger dump than it is now, because of what the island attracts- low skill, low intelligence, low/no education, no future prospects, no ambition, just somewhere for people to sit and enjoy the view. Each to their own.
And when the Island’s local economy contracts because the much needed cash injection of tourists is missing, what will you do then? Beg for free money from Westminster, I suppose.
The world’s impoverished seem to fare well, and they continually arrive so I guess Westminster still has some cash left to aid those who are already here. That or we go back to farming organically instead of building over every field
Misery .
Honesty you mean Mr B.
Almost ALL only want the cash from tourists, not the people. Sadly can’t have one, without the other, unless you are rich enough to own seaside businesses and then live miles away from the crowds and pay cheap cash in hand wages.
Jealousy, pure jealousy!
I guess that is good if you want the island to died a slow death and end up with nothing but coffin dodgers and the unemployed.
Don’t feel sorry for Red Funnel after the amount they have put the fares up Now it will cost them to put their ferry back to working. Feel sorry for the passengers (a) for having this problem and (b) for the rip off. Not plain sailing after all Red Funnel
Makes me annoyed I was attempting to go to Waitrose today couldn’t get there as York Avenue totally blocked you guessed ,,, yes red funnel taking over again .
First car park at the terminal full fair enough ,second car park almost empty with York Avenue tailed right back up to Old Road.
One single person having a nice welcoming chat to every driver one by one in the middle of the street outside the second car park .
Why oh why cant red funnel get the cars off the road and into the area they bought for the purpose of car ferry car park thus leaving the town free or free er of traffic chaos .
If anybody else wanted to block the road for some reason or another it would cost an individual thousands if allowed to do it at all .
But good old red funnel do it for free and make money out of the situation. Win win for red funnel
One out of three ferries not running should mean a 33% reduction in covid19 carriers coming here via RF. What’s not to like?
No they’ll just be moved to the other two boats
Doesn’t work like that. People have already booked, just takes them longer to get here. Also this weekend most of them are already over here, they’re trying to get home, that’s why East Cowes is jammed up.
And the Island is Covid free of course ?? Blondie.
The biggest problem is the scum coming from the mainland to live here.
Ban all those that are coming over here to retire, all they do is moan and try to change things.
Maybe it caught the same virus that the floating bridge is suffering from.
As usual, we’re held to ransom by the ferry mafia.
People talk about people coming over here. That’s a joke, mist people I know would love to get away from this place.
Overpriced everything, crap attractions, terrible shops. Who ever said, oh, let’s go to the island to do some shopping. Errrrrrr no one ever. Become full up with old fart pensioners who selfishly ignore young people’s opportunity on the island in low paid, zero hour contract jobs.
Re Micky Mouse how do old people selfishly ignore young people’s opportunity,
most of my young friends are not interested in a career. They expect their parents to pay for everything, they have no ambition, not interested in travelling to the mainland for a job, almost
illiterate, only interested in me me me in fact the laziest generation ever. Snowflakes.