There is disruption for those crossing the Solent with both Wightlink and Red Funnel this evening (Saturday) with several cancellations due to staffing issues and mechanical breakdowns.
Earlier on in the day Wightlink pulled the 12:40 and 14:40 sailings from Portsmouth Gunwharf and the 13:40 and 15:40 sailings from Fishbourne on its car ferry service. But there is more disruption expected this evening with the 20:00 sailing from Portsmouth also cancelled, alongside the 21:00 sailing from Portsmouth.
The cross-Solent operator says the cancellation of all 6 sailings is due to the absence of an essential crew member. This situation comes just days after Wightlink announced it is looking to slash its workforce, with the union RMT threatening strike action.
Unfortunately, those travelling with Red Funnel are not escaping the disruption. A mechanical breakdown on the East Cowes-Southampton vehicle ferry service has led to a number of cancellations this evening.
Island Echo understands the 17:00 sailing from Southampton, operated by Red Osprey, failed to make it to the Isle of Wight due to a mechanical breakdown. The vessel did an about turn and returned to Southampton, with passengers not offloading until 18:30.
Red Funnel has confirmed the cancellation of the 18:30 and 21:45 sailings from East Cowes, as well as the 20:15 from Southampton.
It is unclear at this early stage if the vessel will be able to be quickly repaired and back in service for tomorrow.
Why do they employ staff that constantly go sick or don’t turn up. Sack them and recruit staff that want to work
Proof they are over staffed.
Install vending machines and do away with the
catering staff for starters.
Wightlink announced they were laying off loads they cry staffing problems….seems poor management. Not sure about red funnel
They are sacking them and not reemploying any new staff, so will it get better, no. Both companies are finished.
Those days are over buttercup – the woke, liberal BS that has infested the HR depts nowadays, means these sicknotes can work the system to their advantage.
add in that wightlink staff are probably on a work to rule now, due to job cuts and voila, as soon as someone is sick, no one will work overtime to cover
Probably not enough customers due to extortionate
fares.
Just build a tunnel ,no more of these problems then
Just add a few miles of timber to Ryde pier job done.
People can then walk, cycle or drive across.
Stick an opening in the middle of the Pier so boats
can go through.
It doesnt take 5 minutes, be real
What a sickly lot ferry staff are!! I’ve had one sick day this year due to an invasive operation! These companies need Truant Officer’s!!
Don’t suppose any refunds were offered?
Not as sick as public sector employees,
take the NHS for example, if you add up their
sick days each throughout the year, it’s no wonder
the country have a £50 billion blackhole.
Scrap sick pay and just pay SSP!
At risk of providing balance in the comments here, I am a fairly regular user of the Wightlink service to Lymington. I have always found their staff unfailingly friendly and helpful. No doubt there will be sick leave as there is in all walks of life and most of these staff are public facing so will be exposed to other people’s infectious illness and some are working largely outside and exposed to inclement weather. But to read the comments here would suggest that ferry staff who are sick are all skiving and should be sacked. Some people really are all heart! These are real people living real lives the same as everyone else. They do their best to provide a public service and are not responsible for the management decisions of the company so can we please give them the respect they deserve.
Except that it never used to happen.
We keep reading the phrase “missing an important crew member” as the excuse for cancellation. How about letting us know the job title of missing crew members! With the number of times this excuse is used I am surprised the MCA don’t query their manning levels as just one person missing stops the ferry sailing!!
Must be the Captain, nothing to go overboard about.
Lol