Wightlink are to ban smoking on all ferries and catamarans from Tuesday (18th April), it has been announced.
The ferry company has taken the decision on safety and health grounds, following a fire on an outside deck of the Portsmouth-Fishbourne car ferry St Faith in January 2017. An investigation into the incident found that the fire started in a cigarette bin on an outside deck.
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says:
“We’ve been considering this policy for some months especially as most other public transport is smoke free. But the recent fire on St Faith, which started in a cigarette bin on an outside deck, confirmed that we should move forward and become a smoke free ferry service. We know that our customers will enjoy a healthier, safer and cleaner service as a result.”
Wightlink say they will support staff who would like to take this opportunity to give up the habit.
