Those travelling with Red Funnel on its East Cowes-Southampton vehicle ferry service have found themselves stuck at sea and ‘bobbing about’ due to a technical issue with the passenger gangway at the Southampton terminal.
Red Eagle is currently stuck in port as it’s understood the ramp used to board foot passengers cannot be moved to allow the ferry to move off.
It means that the 18:30 departure from East Cowes – the Red Falcon – is still at sea, having spent over an hour waiting to dock in Southampton. The Red Osprey is now also approaching Southampton, but the Red Eagle is yet to move.
Red Funnel has not yet advised of any delays or cancellations via its website or text alert system.
UPDATE @ 21:02 – Red Funnel has confirmed that it has suspended its vehicle ferry service until further notice.
Passengers are being offered complimentary hot drinks or bottles of water.
UPDATE @ 21:30 – Efforts are now underway to manually lift the passenger gangway using a rope and winch system.
UPDATE @ 22:43 – The vehicle ferry service has resumed with Red Eagle now heading for East Cowes, albeit several hours behind schedule.
Go Dread Funnel! Another ‘quality’ service that won’t be penalised in any way!!
Is ANYBODY going to do ANYTHING about this continuing situation
No… no one never will..
People scoff about a bridge or tunnel, but I have lived and worked in Norway and there are loads of causeways and bridges, even spanning small archipelagos adding an incredibly scenic drive. Take the Atlantic Road in Norway – a very scenic and beautiful drive. A bridge across to the island would become a tourist attraction in its own right. Don’t tell me we have problems with shipping – Norway has shipping and a massive fishing industry. Don’t tell me it will attract the dregs of society – we have them here already! Who pays for all these bridges in Norway? The Government! It will cost billions, but the UK Government needs to step in and PAY for this. The diehard islanders need to move into the 21st century and realise that the island is slowly dying. The intelligent kids go off to university and don’t or won’t return. The ferries are so expensive and unreliable now it’s a bad decision to think about investing here in either buying a property or setting up a business.
The Government won’t invest the circa £3b it would cost. There’s no financial benefit. No industry here to support spending huge amounts of money.If industry tried to invest here, the NIMBY’s would have a field day.
What with labour in power ..more chance of of snowing on the sun..
RESPONDING TO GRAHAM
Yes well said Graham.
We need a bridge.
enough of this rubbish about how the ferries cant deliver we are all held hostage here people missing appointment, work, meetings, connections etc its just ridicules now .
WHAT ARE THE NEW ISLAND MP DOING….NOTHING!!!
It would soon have disconnected, if they’d moved the ship.
The gift that keeps on giveing..