‘Victoria of Wight’, Wightlink’s brand new ferry for the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route, is nearing completion in a dockyard in Turkey.
The new ship is part of a £45million investment in the route. New 2-tier boarding ramps are already in use at Portsmouth and Fishbourne and have made loading and unloading of the ferry St Clare faster and more efficient.
Victoria of Wight will be a hybrid vessel, powered by batteries as well as low sulphur marine gas oil. Environmentally friendly features will include the recycling of hot water from the engines to heat the passenger areas and low energy LED lighting. There will be a Costa Coffee store on board as well as a shop selling high quality Isle of Wight produce.
The new flagship was meant to be launched at the end of 2017 and handed over to the cross-Solent operator early this year. However, Wightlink have confirmed that Victoria of Wight will be arriving late 2018.
