Wightlink’s brand new £30 million hybrid energy car ferry, Victoria of Wight, has been officially named by HRH The Countess of Wessex this afternoon (Thursday).
A special ceremony took place at Wightlink’s Fishbourne terminal earlier on today in front of local school children from Binstead Primary and Wootton Primary, civic dignitaries and invited guests. A blessing was given from The Right Reverend Christopher Foster, Lord Bishop of Portsmouth.
Her Royal Highness gave a short speech before the bottle of champagne smashed against the side of the hull, marking the historic naming of Victoria of Wight. This was followed by a tour of the vessel, showcasing her environmentally-friendly credentials and luxurious interior – which includes more than 20 lounges and seating areas.
Powered by hybrid energy, Victoria of Wight uses a combination of battery power and conventional engines to minimise emissions. Its eco-friendly credentials also include a lift that is able to generate electricity through kinetic energy, onboard water heated by warmth generated by the engine and motion sensor LED lighting in lesser used areas of the ship.
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says:
“I was proud to see our brand new ship being named by Her Royal Highness and very fitting that a member of the Royal Family should name Victoria of Wight, just a few miles from Osborne House, a place so loved by Queen Victoria.
“The arrival of Victoria of Wight heralds the completion of our £45million investment to improve the speed and efficiency of the route between Fishbourne and Portsmouth. Her hybrid energy system and host of environmental features will provide a cleaner and greener journey across the Solent for our customers.
“We were delighted to be joined by so many Isle of Wight companies who supply the refreshments we sell on board our fleet, as well as local school children, representatives from the charities and sporting groups we support and members of the local business community. It was a wonderful occasion and we would like to thank everyone who came along to help us celebrate.”
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Victoria of Wight can carry up to 178 cars and more than 1,000 passengers and is the final milestone in Wightlink’s £45 million investment in the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route. This included extensive port improvements which allow for double deck loading to both Victoria of Wight and St Clare ferries, meaning easier loading for customers.
Refreshments sourced from local Isle of Wight suppliers and canapes produced by top Isle of Wight chef, Robert Thompson, were provided.
Sophie, The Countess of Wessex also visited Aspire Ryde and Liz Earle whilst on the Island today.
