Wightlink has pulled its flagship ‘Victoria of Wight’ from service after damage was sustained to the ship’s prow during a ‘heavy berthing’ at Fishbourne earlier this afternoon (Monday).
The ferry – the 13:00 sailing from Portsmouth – was docking as normal when it crashed, resulting in the 431 passengers and 16 crew onboard being jolted. No one has been seriously injured, but several have been left shaken.
The cross-Solent operator is now conducting an inspection of the Victoria of Wight ferry following its return to Portsmouth. In the meantime, a shuttle service is being operated on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route to keep passengers moving.
It is unknown at this stage if the ferry will be out of action for any significant period of time, nor what caused the impact at the Fishbourne terminal.
Travel disruption is expected for the remainder of the day due to the sudden lack of capacity, but Wightlink is advising customers to continue checking in as normal.
UPDATE @ 16:45 – It has been confirmed that Victoria of Wight will not re-enter service on Tuesday, with no indication as to when it will return.
Surveyors have been called in to assess the damage and agree any repairs needed.
Meanwhile, Wightlink is contacting the customers who were on the affected crossing to offer support.
Wightlink admits that there will be some delays to sailings this afternoon and evening, but customers are advised to check in as normal. A shuttle service remains in operation.
A further statement is expected tomorrow lunchtime.
Bit of T-Cut that buff out no need to be out of service for 2 weeks
Precisely……I can’t even see the damage. What am I supposed to be seeing???
The section of I beam steel to the left that should be in line with the others, taking the load of passenger vehicles on and off is buckled, therefore rendering that section dangerous to take any weight on
James your so smart
Luckily they have a couple of spare ferries in Lymington …
But 5hey never use them
Did the same ‘engineers’ design and build Victoria of Wight and Floating Bridge No 6???? They both seem to be cursed with continuous problems!!!!!
Heavy berthing – heavy handed going in more like!
Probably on Facebook or some other social media, no different from island car driver’s then.
Ban social media!!!
I was onboard it was a big shunt knocked my wife to the floor as we came down the stairs
Hi Paul. I hope your wife is OK. It is beyond me why your comnent has achieved a ‘thumbs down’. I do question the mentality of posters on here at times!!
Possibly the comment was disliked as sensible folk remain seated until the ferry has safely docked, rather than impatiently rushing to their vehicles as soon as the gates open in a vain attempt to disembark slightly quicker. I do hope the lady did not sustain any injuries when she fell and is ok now.
Phil, the ferry company actually announce for you to proceed to your vehicle in advance of docking, with staff actively encouraging you to leave the saloon before arrival. Maybe sensible folk get their facts right, rather than impatiently rushing to an incorrect conclusion of the situation? 😐
Should have been holding on to the handrails as told too
You don’t use the ferry’s do you
Nobody waits until doclking is complete before returning to their cars….
I do. That way I don’t have to queue on the stairs or shuffle along like a penguin. Once the ferry docks, you still have plenty of time to get to your vehicle. The ‘ferry company’ announcement is purely to speed things up in their interests. If you want to remain safe, you need to make your own decisions. I do use the ferry, but haven’t for a couple of years. I am confident things have not changed much in that time.
I use the ferry something like 20 times a year. I don’t rush back to my vehicle in order to avoid a crush of people but equally I know of nobody who ignores the instruction to return to their vehicles. Currently the crew also need to time to sanitise the vessel before the next passengers.
Since Vivid it is announced for you to start leaving to get to your car before docking to allow staff to clean the vessel. You say have not travelled on the ferry for a couple of years so perhaps you should and see what they say.
No you shouldn’t have to make your own decisions the company should be telling you to remain seated until it stops not please make your way back to your vehicles that is instructed
Actually another thought – if you wait a few mins after being asked to return in order to avoid the rush there’s still some 5 mins or more before the vessel berths so everybody is safely siting down again, albeit in their cars
barely a scratch – contacting the customers to offer support – jeez, talk about promoting fragility – all that happened was the boat hit the berth and not even that hard.
check it still opens and closes as it should – bash out the dent, paint it and then put it back in service – stop being such a bunch of whiny nannies.
ok so when it causes a major incident who is to blame, bi
t like the cladding farce. Public safety should be paramount and things checked thoroughly. They have other vessels, use them
It’s a bit more than that… the nearside pivot/bearing assembly is broken.Only an expert can decide what is safe and what is not….
I assume you were on the boat – how heavy was the collision ?
Wightlink are upping the stakes in their campaign to win over islanders to a fixed link. Needs to be nationalised before this ‘service’ vanishes are we are left with the only option and build a fixed link. Something none of us want.
Sub Lieutenant Phillips at the helm. ” Everybody down”!
Captain got a cut finger lol
Wouldn’t be out of service in India and it’s on the edge so no load there anyhow.
I was on the ferry and the collision was extremely heavy. My two children and I were thrown to the floor and we all have significant injuries.