UPDATED: Wightlink have suspended their Fishbourne-Portsmouth car ferry service this lunchtime (Tuesday) due to what they have described as an ‘ongoing incident’.
It is currently unclear what has forced the vital cross-Solent link to come to an halt until further notice, but initial indications suggest it relates to a passenger on board one of the car ferries.
The flagship vessel ‘St Clare’ is currently docking at Portsmouth Gunwharf having only just left the mainland port, indicating there is a problem on board. The company’s other vessel in service, ‘St Faith’, has departed Fishbourne as normal.
UPDATE @ 13:35 – Passengers on board ‘St Clare’, those waiting to load and other sources are reporting to Island Echo that a female has made indications that she – or someone else – has an explosive device on board the car ferry.
Police have arrived at Wightlink’s Portsmouth Gunwharf terminal.
A spokesperson for Wightlink has confirmed that the 13:00 sailing from Portsmouth has returned to port following an incident onboard with a ‘disruptive passenger’. The spokesperson has confirmed that Police are in attendance at the terminal.
It is unclear at this stage if there is any seriousness to the threat, whether the person is inebriated or otherwise has diminished capacity.
UPDATE @ 13:56 – Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed that officers are currently responding to concerns for the welfare of a woman.
Island Echo readers are now reporting that the St Clare is once again being loaded indicating the safe resolution of the incident. The service is expected to resume shortly, but with delays.
UPDATE @ 14:25 – Wightlink have confirmed that the service is now back in operation but with 1 hour delays.
A spokesperson has said:
“The Wightlink car ferry St Clare has now departed for Fishbourne from Portsmouth following delays caused by an earlier incident onboard the ship involving a disruptive passenger.
“Other passengers onboard at the time of the incident disembarked from St Clare when the ferry berthed at Portsmouth an hour ago. They are now continuing their journey.
“Wightlink is sorry for the delays to customers this afternoon”.
The disrupted passenger has been dealt with by Police.
