Wightlink has been forced to suspend its Fishbourne-Portsmouth car ferry service this morning (Sunday) due to a mechanical failure.
Island Echo understands that there is a problem with the linkspan that allows vehicles to embark and disembark from the ferries that operate the cross-Solent route.
There has been no indication from Wightlink as to when the problem is likely to be fixed. It’s thought engineers from the mainland are being sent over to rectify the problem, which has seen the linkspan ‘twist’.
It’s understood passengers are being diverted to the company’s Yarmouth-Lymington service instead. However, the West Wight route is already running a reduced timetable today due to the absence of a crucial member of crew.
Wightlink’s website has not been updated to reflect the suspension of service with the service status indicator showing green and all ferries running on time.
The problem was discovered shortly before 09:00 and the next update is not expected until 11:00.
Meanwhile, Red Funnel’s East Cowes-Southampton service is facing delays due to a broken down coach at the front of the ferry. Hovertravel, Wightlink’s Fastcat and Red Funnel’s Red Jet are all running to timetable.
UPDATE @ 11:10 – Wightlink has confirmed that the Fishbourne-Portsmouth service has now resumed, but with 30 minute delays to scheduled sailings.
A number of sailings have now been cancelled due to staffing issues. These include:
From Portsmouth:
09:00
09:40
12:20
14:20
16:20
18:20
From Fishbourne:
08:40
10:00
13:20
15:20
17:20
19:20
The original concrete ramps didn’t twist. go back to basics.
Funny how there wasn’t a single problem on all routes during the festival
Their website is probably experiencing “diffficulties”
About time to start digging that tunnel !! Then there would not be these problems, plus 24 hour ability to come and go… no booking..
So what happens when there is a serious or fatal that will shut your tunnel for several hours, guess your name lives up to its standard of no brain.
Yup, no one really wants a fixed link but these pirates are leaving us with no option. 20 years ago you could just rock up at any of the ferry ports, no booking, grab a ticked and be on your way. Now it’s like planning the D-Day landings trying to get of the island. And even when you have all the planets aligned it could be cancelled leaving you stuck.
Pirates is spot on. The recent cancellations and various mechanical issues has shifted the focus away from the pertinent fact that is it absolute daylight robbery to take a vehicle across a few miles of water.
Does anyone believe this cowboy outfit???..
Profits over service is no service at all.
If the mechanical failure was before the staffing issue, did they send staff home when they found the fault without finding out how long the repair would take?
Seems once again the customers plans don’t matter!
nearly all companies are fined if they do not meet deadlines including aeroplanes. Isle of wight council should be enforcing fines and that could make the service more reliable
And more expensive.
Bring back “Sealink”.
All operators to and from this Island are not only for people coming here on holiday, they are an essential service in one way or another for every individual on this Island, as such the service they provide should be classed as an essential service and ring fenced as such.
The MP and Council should move heaven and earth to insure this service is not hit and miss, this is clearly spoken about often with little or no satisfactory outcome.
There is a petrol shortage here on the Island, Petrol is not flown over it requires a ferry to deliver the same.
Time way past for meaningful action.
Not many other services I can think of where you pay well over £100 to get stressed, anxious, fed up, and depressed all in one go, then have to do it again to come back.
All car ferries should be run by the Isle of wight council and profits used to keep council tax in check.
Problem is, they would have more staff than customers, the top brass would skim off any profits before they were declared as such, and likely be as effecient as the floating bridge.
So I guess we are stuck with Pirates instead of elected muggers of our cash.
They think we believe their bull excuses. Some Yarmouth sailings cancelled today as well. Essentail worker unavailable! He was unavailable on a Sunday in August when we went over. Maybe the essential worker should see Occupational Health!
Have to say as aa visitor the service has gone down huil this yeare
In June with Victoria broken down, we arrived at fishbourne on time (no one had texted us, no custome service on site) their doorman woudn’t even let us part on the hard standing, we had to try parking at the abbey, Two hours late starting our journey home and the traffic was a nightmare
This year queired the ‘new’ booking system for next year, guess what no response from White Link
What the ‘locals’ make of this service god only knows
But the Isle relys on to a great extent on holiday makers and the money they bring, much more if this and we will go elsewhere, Dorset?