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'''Wightlink''' is a [[ferry]] company operating routes between [[Hampshire]] and the [[Isle of Wight]] in southern [[England]]. |
'''Wightlink''' is a [[ferry]] company operating routes between [[Hampshire]] and the [[Isle of Wight]] in southern [[England]]. |
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Their core routes are car ferries from [[Lymington]] to [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]] (30 minutes) and [[Portsmouth]] to [[Fishbourne, Isle of Wight|Fishbourne]] (40 minutes). A fast passenger-only [[catamaran]] operates between [[Portsmouth]] Harbour and [[Ryde Pier|Ryde Pier Head]] (taking 18 minutes), and directly links into the [[Island Line, Isle of Wight|Island Line]] rail line. |
Their core routes are car ferries from [[Lymington]] to [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]] (30 minutes) and [[Portsmouth]] to [[Fishbourne, Isle of Wight|Fishbourne]] (40 minutes). A fast passenger-only [[catamaran]] operates between [[Portsmouth]] Harbour and [[Ryde Pier|Ryde Pier Head]] (taking 18 minutes), and directly links into the [[Island Line, Isle of Wight|Island Line]] rail line. Wightlink's main competitor is the [http://www.redfunnel.co.uk Red Funnel] who are based in Southampton and operate the largest vehicles ferries to serve the Isle of Wight between Southampton and [[East Cowes, Isle of Wight|East Cowes]] . [http://www.redfunnel.co.uk Red Funnel] also operate Red Jet Hi-Speed catamarans from Southampton to [[Cowes, Isle of Wight|Cowes]]. [http://www.redfunnel.co.uk Red Funnel] are often seen as the premier ferry operator to the Isle of Wight as a result of the high levels of customer service offered.<p> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Wightlink and its forerunners have provided ferry services to and from the [[Isle of Wight]] for more than 160 years.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wightlink.co.uk/about-us/history.aspx| title=History| publisher=Wightlink| accessdate=29 March 2009}}</ref> In the early nineteenth century, ferries ran to the island from [[Lymington]] and [[Portsmouth]]. Later, steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington, [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]], [[Cowes]], [[Ryde]] and Portsmouth. When the rail companies became involved they concentrated on two direct routes, Lymington - Yarmouth and Portsmouth - Ryde.<ref name="history"/> Ownership of the ferries eventually passed from the [[British Railways Board]] to [[Sealink|Sealink UK Limited]]. |
Wightlink and its forerunners have provided ferry services to and from the [[Isle of Wight]] for more than 160 years.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wightlink.co.uk/about-us/history.aspx| title=History| publisher=Wightlink| accessdate=29 March 2009}}</ref> In the early nineteenth century, ferries ran to the island from [[Lymington]] and [[Portsmouth]]. Later, steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington, [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]], [[Cowes]], [[Ryde]] and Portsmouth. When the rail companies became involved they concentrated on two direct routes, Lymington - Yarmouth and Portsmouth - Ryde.<ref name="history"/> Ownership of the ferries eventually passed from the [[British Railways Board]] to [[Sealink|Sealink UK Limited]]. |
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Revision as of 16:19, 11 February 2012
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| Company type | Ltd |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth |
| Revenue | £51 million |
Number of employees | between 600 - 750 |
| Website | www.wightlink.co.uk |
Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.
Their core routes are car ferries from Lymington to Yarmouth (30 minutes) and Portsmouth to Fishbourne (40 minutes). A fast passenger-only catamaran operates between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head (taking 18 minutes), and directly links into the Island Line rail line. Wightlink's main competitor is the Red Funnel who are based in Southampton and operate the largest vehicles ferries to serve the Isle of Wight between Southampton and East Cowes . Red Funnel also operate Red Jet Hi-Speed catamarans from Southampton to Cowes. Red Funnel are often seen as the premier ferry operator to the Isle of Wight as a result of the high levels of customer service offered.
History
Wightlink and its forerunners have provided ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight for more than 160 years.[1] In the early nineteenth century, ferries ran to the island from Lymington and Portsmouth. Later, steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington, Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde and Portsmouth. When the rail companies became involved they concentrated on two direct routes, Lymington - Yarmouth and Portsmouth - Ryde.[1] Ownership of the ferries eventually passed from the British Railways Board to Sealink UK Limited.
In 1984 Sealink UK Limited was denationalised and the operating name became Sealink British Ferries, which was subsequently bought by the Bermuda based Sea Containers Ltd. When Stena Line bought Sealink British Ferries in 1990, the Isle of Wight ferries remained with Sea Containers, as ‘Wightlink’.[1] In June 1995 Wightlink was the subject of a management buy-in. In 2005 it was bought by the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund for an estimated £240,000,000.[1]
In 2004, Wightlink renewed its sponsorship of the Wightlink Raiders ice hockey team,[citation needed]
In October 2006 Wightlink announced its intention to build two new ferries for the Yarmouth to Lymington route. These ships are slightly bigger than their predecessors, with extra vehicle space, but will only accommodate 360 passengers compared to 500 on the older vessels. Wightlink later announced that a third new ferry would enter service in spring 2009. A dispute with some Lymington residents led to delay and threatened the viability of the route.[2][3] In November 2008, the service was reduced so only 2 ships were required, allowing for the delay in the introduction of the new vessels.[4] Sea trials were not complete by November 2008 and introduction became pressing with the expiry of safety certificates on the previous fleet. Wightlink proposed interim arrangements enabling them restricted use of the new ferries until the trials can be completed in full.[5]
In March 2008 Wightlink revealed that an order has been placed with FBMA Marine to construct 2 new passenger catamarans for the Portsmouth to Ryde service, to replace the three craft currently employed. They entered service in 2009.
From May 2008 Wightlink introduced a fuel surcharge on all crossings, linked to the price of Brent Crude oil.[6] However in November 2008 the surcharge dropped to zero following the sharp reduction in crude prices during the credit crunch and as of November 2009 is still at zero.
Wightlink are spending £17.5M on improving their Portsmouth-Fishbourne route.[7] They are remodelling the terminal facilities at both Fishbourne and Portsmouth to provide for new ferry loading arrangements which will be brought into use in the summer of 2009. Their flagship MV St Clare will have its upper car deck adjusted so vehicles access it directly from on-shore ramps. Two of the older ferries are being stretched in length by 12 metres, with upper car decks similar to St Clare's being added, replacing movable mezzanine decks. Of the remaining two ferries, St Catherine has been sold and St Helen will be used mainly for freight.[8][9]
Current fleet
Fishbourne
The following car ferries are used on the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route:
Ryde
The following passenger-only catamarans operate on the Ryde Pier head to Portsmouth route:
Wight Ryder I and Wight Ryder II entered service in September 2009.[10]
Yarmouth
The following car ferries are used on the Yarmouth to Lymington route:
The introduction of the Wight class ferries was a much discussed affair, with some Lymington residents claiming that the increased size of the ferries posed a risk, both in environmental terms and to users of pleasure craft on the Lymington river.
Historic fleet
The following ferries have operated historically on routes run by Wightlink or previous companies that have been absorbed by Wightlink.[11][12]
Lymington-Yarmouth
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Portsmouth-Ryde
Portsmouth-Fishbourne
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Langston Harbour-Bembridge
- TF Carrier 1885-1888
Figures
Every year, Wightlink carries:
- 5 ½ million passengers
- over 1.2 million cars
- almost 200,000 coaches and freight vehicles
- Annual revenue £51 million
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d "History". Wightlink. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Threat to ferry route". Isle of Wight County Press. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
- ^ "Isle of Wight: MP Andrew Turner asks why introduction of new Wightlink ferry is being delayed". Isle of Wight County Press. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "New Lymington Timetable". Wightlink. Retrieved 21 November 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Andrew Wilson (20 November 2008). "Press Statement: Introduction of new Ferries". Retrieved 29 March 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Fuel Surcharge". Wightlink. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Portsmouth to Fishbourne Investment". Wightlink. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ "Portsmouth to Fishbourne Car Ferry Service - The Way Forward" (PDF). Wightlink. Summer 2008.
- ^ Lorraine Parker (18 April 2008). "Wightlink Stretching Capacity on Board". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ "WightLink chronological history". Wightlink. 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "History of Isle of Wight Ferries - Wightlink". Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ Hendy, John. (1989) Sealink Isle of Wight, Ferry Publications
External links
- Wightlink website - wightlink.co.uk
