Wightlink’s Chief Executive, Keith Greenfield, has published a video from home providing an update on the company’s cross-Solent operations during this time of crisis.
In the video, Mr Greenfield pays tribute to all of the NHS and care staff on the front line on the Isle of Wight and throughout the country. He goes on to explain what is happening behind the scenes at Wightlink, with Victoria of Wight running around-the-clock to keep an essential service in operation.
A message from Keith Greenfield, CEO of Wightlink Ferries:
“I’d like to start by saying a huge thanks and paying tribute to all the NHS and care workers on the front line on the Isle of Wight and the rest of the country at this time. We’re all incredibly proud and inspired by the work that you’re doing on our behalf and looking after the people in your care; you’re very brave and dedicated, and an inspiration to the rest of us.
“So, on behalf of Wightlink, thank you.
“There are actually an army of people behind the scenes, keeping the front line going, keeping the front line supplied, delivering to hospitals, keeping the food on the shelves in our supermarkets, taking our waste away and of course taking key workers to and from their places of work. So Wightlink is very proud to be part of that effort, that transport team behind the scenes, so I’d like to thank our crews both on board and in our ports; and actually a large number of people working from home but whose work is also essential to keeping our Portsmouth-Fishbourne route running, so thank you for all the amazing work you’re doing as well.
“People will know that we’ve had to suspend two of our routes, following the Government’s restrictions on travel. We’re pleased that people have heeded the Government advice to stay at home, but it does mean that we don’t have the volume of travel to support those two services. We are working with the Isle of Wight Council and the other cross-Solent operators to make sure that the Isle of Wight has an essential level of service. For our part, that means Portsmouth – Fishbourne, using Victoria of Wight which is operating 24-hours a day. Victoria of Wight’s our largest, greenest and most modern car ferry; she has more than enough capacity for all of the transport that’s needed on that particular route at this time and we’re very proud of playing our part in keeping the Island supplied using Victoria of Wight.
“People will no doubt be looking forward to a much happier time ahead. I’m looking forward to a time when travel restrictions are lifted, when visitors can start to return to the Island. At Wightlink we are already planning for that and looking forward to that too; we’ll be ready with all of our ships to resume service just as soon as we are able to and in the meantime I look forward to welcoming you on board when the time comes, which I hope will be not too far away.
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Took you long enough, you should of really taken the initiative and stopped all non essential travel much, much earlier, instead of catering for the 2nd and 3rd home owners, who I am sure brought the virus with them from London.
Mr Greenfield as a “nice” gesture how about you offer FREE, yes I did say FREE, not a 10% or 20% reduction, because you do that sometimes anyway. So FREE travel for one year for only Isle of Wight NHS Staff. Car and Passenger Ferries, now that would be a great help to the staff who will be exhausted once this is over because the expense of getting across the most expensive piece of water in the world will be gone.
wightlink is not a charity.
As soon as the government support is withdrawn, the staff will return to work and require paying or they will be made redundant.
If NHS staff get to travel for free, then who pays the staff wages? – what about other key workers that have been busting their arses and not stuck indoors. How about other businesses offer free stuff to the ferry staff for keeping Victoria of wight going and bringing your food over.
No, it will be back to normal and you pay, like everyone else will, or staff will lose their jobs, because you want free travel.
I don’t work for the NHS so it’s not for MY free travel. It’s for the people who might one day risk their lives to save yours.
:@Mark..
firefighters risk their lives to save others, police risk their lives to save others, the military risk their lives to save others, the coastguard risk their lives to save others – by your logic, they should all get free travel – at which point wightlink staff will have cleared off somewhere else to make money to pay their household bills and the boats won’t be running as they won’t have money to buy fuel.
Get a grip mark – stop letting your emotions cloud the business reality. If you want the boats to be taxpayer funded for ever, then expect to pay higher taxes to cover the cost of all this free travel.
Wake up will you.
Is this not the job they are paid to do and in many cases chose their own vocation ?
its down to the 2nd and 3rd home owners that keep the island afloat as well as the holiday makers. It may of been one of the islanders who work in London that bought it to the island. Not everyone that comes to island comes from London either
If he is so concerned about the nhs services on the island why has he been letting the ferries bring over holiday makers especially at easter which is unnecessary travel in lockdown causing the virus count and deaths to increase on the island.He should be feeling guilty not counting his pennies
I don’t believe their staff have the authority to question people’s reasons for travelling so in this instance Wightlink can’t be blamed. The police however should have been at the ferry ports questioning people and fining them and forcing them to go back home if their journey wasn’t essential.
S. Grehan. What evidence do you have of holiday makers coming over to the Island for Easter? Please enlighten me. Freight and key workers only for both ferries. Stop making things up!
My journey was nit essential, and our events were cancelled, and yet you are not refunding.
I am deeply disappointed as this is an unprecedented situation and yet you will not change your policy .
Report them to the council as they are getting millions from the government claiming the cancellations have caused them financial losses, yet if they are keeping peoples money its fraud
wightlink will refund in accordance with the terms and conditions that you agree to when you purchased the ticket – if they keep the money because they can, based on the terms and conditions, that is perfectly legal.
I really can’t believe that people are so judgemental, which ferry company is the biggest to serve the island, and they are doing their best at a difficult time and don’t deserve this slaying