Wightlink’s flagship ferry Victoria of Wight carried her 1st passengers from Portsmouth to Fishbourne 5 years ago today (Saturday).
Since then, Victoria of Wight has sailed almost 190,000 nautical miles, or 9 times around the world. She has carried 1,807,995 vehicles and 4,384,761 passengers between Portsmouth and Fishbourne and has also sailed to and from UK shipyards in winter for dry-docking and hull surveys.
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield said:
“On joining the fleet, our hybrid flagship set new standards for comfort and reliability.
“Victoria of Wight is England’s 1st large ferry to combine energy from conventional engines and powerful batteries and she is 33% more fuel-efficient than our next largest ship, St Clare, which means reduced emissions.”
Wightlink’s £30million investment in Victoria of Wight was part of the ferry company’s £45million development of the Portsmouth – Fishbourne route.
£15million was spent on port improvements to allow vehicles to be loaded during double-deck ramps on both Victoria of Wight and St Clare ferries.
Victoria of Wight fact file
- She was built in the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey
- She can carry up to 178 cars and more than 1,000 passengers on every sailing
- She is 89.7 metres long – about the same as the height of the Statue of Liberty
- Her name was chosen from 183 suggestions made by over 70 staff members while she was being built. Many ideas reflected the route’s heritage and history
Well there you go, how bloody interesting. The nearest I ever got to sailing on her was when I was in the queue to board her and the sailing was cancelled as she broke down!
1.8 million vehicles at a low estimate of £100 each =180 million 40m for the boat 40m running costs 15 million on terminal upgrades..
105 million profit in 5 years?
No wonder they are celabrating
They won’t make nothing out of me I wouldn’t use them
Not sure where you picked 40m for running costs… Just a wild ass guess?
Of course operating the shore side facilities doesn’t cost anything at all… and I’m also assuming you think the entire work force do their job just for the love of it and don’t expect to be paid?
But has run a full day once in them 5 years lol
What would be a nice way to celebrate this occasion, dropping the fares to a realistic price instead of playing pirates of the Solent!
Is there going to be a £5 special fare.
Technically it’s 3yrs of if you include operational downtime, no so May Nikes on the clock .. when moored up .. it will burn less fuel, as it hardly ever runs on time and just collects barnacles .. £30M well worth it !!! Wightlink still a rubbish service provider ..
£10 is a fair fare for Island Residents.