Wightlink have been forced to suspended their Fastcat catamaran service between Ryde Pier Head and Portsmouth Harbour this afternoon (Wednesday).
A technical issue with one of the Wight Ryder vessels has led to the disruptive action being taken. A second vessel to operate the route is out for annual maintenance until 11th April, meaning no vessels are currently available to serve the cross-Solent route.
Passengers have been directed to catch the 17:00 car ferry sailing from Portsmouth to Fishbourne as a result of the cancellation of the 16:15 catamaran sailing.
Wightlink have not updated their service status to reflect the suspension of service.
UPDATE @ 17:07 – Disgruntled passengers say the Ali Cat of Cowes, a replacement charter vessel, has docked at Portsmouth Gunwharf.
Meanwhile Hovertravel are advising that their service between Ryde and Southsea is busy and delayed due to increased passenger numbers.
UPDATE @ 17:45 – The Wightlink Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour service is now back up and running.
A spokesperson for the cross-Solent operator has told Island Echo:
“This afternoon’s 16:15 FastCat sailing from Portsmouth Harbour and 16:47 from Ryde, were cancelled because of a mechanical fault with Wight Ryder 1. All customers were transferred to Wightlink’s car ferry service instead and buses and taxis then took them from Fishbourne to Ryde.
A charter vessel will depart at 17:15 from Portsmouth and 17:47 from Ryde.
Wight Ryder 1 will return to service at Portsmouth at 18:15”.
Disgusting service. They have had one boat running for some time and may have asked the obvious, what happens if this boat has an issue. The cut costs by not having a 3rd spare boat and a 3rd crew on call. And this is a result. And to top it all, they don’t pay UK taxes!
and people like you cause this company losses every year…. if you dont like it swim
What??? How??? They have to be held to account otherwise they will continue to take more money and deliver a worsening service.
Stop moning it does not offen happen gust dill with it
But it does happen all too often! For over a month now they have been running with half the morning / evening sailings than normal. And for more than a year their ticket machines for the car park have not worked forcing you to queue for a ticket. Then there is a farce with the ramp that took over a year to be fixed. Their service gets worse and the fares go up. Their only saving grace is the staff, they are the best.
No, It is not acceptable to be relying on one ‘cat’. That is a pathetic service, think of those who were relying on making train connections and possibly flights, in such cases switching to Fishbourne is not an option. Weather problems we all accept and have to live with but lack of back up is typical of companies whose only consideration is ‘the bottom line’.