Wightlink
Ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
title: "Wightlink" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ferry-companies-of-england", "ferry-transport-on-the-isle-of-wight", "transport-in-hampshire", "transport-in-portsmouth", "wightlink"] description: "Ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wightlink" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Wightlink |
| logo | Wightlink new logo.svg |
| type | Limited Company |
| image | MV Victoria of Wight docked.jpg |
| image_caption | Wightlink's hybrid ferry at Portsmouth Harbour, 25 October 2018 |
| location | Portsmouth, Hampshire, England |
| area_served | Hampshire |
| Isle of Wight | |
| industry | Shipping |
| revenue | £71 million |
| revenue_year | 2022 |
| operating_income | £28 million |
| income_year | 2022 |
| net_income | £19 million |
| net_income_year | 2022 |
| parent | Basalt Infrastructure Partners (50%) |
| Fiera Infrastructure (50%) | |
| website | |
| footnotes | |
| :: |
|name = Wightlink |logo = Wightlink new logo.svg |type = Limited Company |image = MV Victoria of Wight docked.jpg |image_caption = Wightlink's hybrid ferry at Portsmouth Harbour, 25 October 2018 |foundation = |location = Portsmouth, Hampshire, England |area_served = Hampshire Isle of Wight |key_people = |num_employees = |num_employees_year = |industry = Shipping |services = |revenue = £71 million |revenue_year = 2022 |operating_income = £28 million |income_year = 2022 |net_income = £19 million |net_income_year = 2022 |parent = Basalt Infrastructure Partners (50%) Fiera Infrastructure (50%) |website = |footnotes = }}
Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes across The Solent between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the south of England. It operates car ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth, and Portsmouth and Fishbourne and a fast passenger-only catamaran between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier. It is jointly owned by Basalt Infrastructure Partners and Fiera Infrastructure.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/wightlink-house-flag.svg" caption="House Flag"] ::
Wightlink and its forerunners have provided ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight for more than 160 years. In the early 19th 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 railway companies became involved, they concentrated on two direct routes, Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Ryde. Operation of the ferries was eventually moved under a separate subsidiary of the British Railways Board called Sealink.
In 1984 Sealink was sold to Sea Containers. When Stena Line bought Sealink in 1990, the Isle of Wight ferries remained with Sea Containers, as Wightlink. In 2005 it was bought by the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund.
In 2005, a Wightlink car ferry featured briefly in the film Fragile starring Calista Flockhart. The ferry is shown very briefly in a wide-angle shot. Closer shots used Red Funnel's .
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 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. In November 2008, the service was reduced so only two ships were required, allowing for the delay in the introduction of the new vessels. 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 could be completed in full. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Wightlink_old_logo.png" caption="The previous Wightlink logo, replaced at around the time the new ferries were arriving."] ::
In March 2008 Wightlink revealed that an order had been placed with FBMA Marine to construct two 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. However, in November 2008 the surcharge dropped to zero following the sharp drop in crude prices during the 2008 financial crisis and as of November 2009 was still at zero.
Wightlink planned to spend £17.5 million on improving its Portsmouth to Fishbourne route. This involved remodelling the terminal facilities at both Fishbourne and Portsmouth. The flagship was to have its upper car deck adjusted so vehicles access it directly from on-shore ramps. Two of the older ferries were to be 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, has been sold and was used mainly for freight until she too was sold. As part of this investment project the reservations and ticketing system was replaced by CarRes from Carus.
On 16 February 2015, Wightlink was sold by the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners (BBIP). On 15 May 2015, Wightlink announced a revised investment of £45 million to include the purchase a new ferry, upgrading St Clare and modifications to the terminals at both ends to facilitate double-deck loading.
In July 2016, Balfour Beatty exited BBIP, which became Basalt Infrastructure Partners.
In August 2017, Wightlink announced that a new vehicle ferry, , would be built for the Portsmouth to Fishbourne service. It entered service on 26 August 2018. In May 2019, BBIP sold a 50% stake in the business to Fiera Infrastructure of Canada.
Current fleet
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/St_Clare-image05.jpg" caption="St Clare]]'', July 2013."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Wightryders.jpg" caption="Wight Ryder II]]'' at Portsmouth Harbour in August 2009 prior to entry into service"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Wight_Light.jpg" caption="Wight Light]]'', the first of the new ferries launched in 2008 for the Lymington to Yarmouth route, undertaking [[sea trials]] prior to delivery"] ::
Vehicle ferries
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Mvwightsky.jpg" caption="Wight Sky]]'' at Yarmouth Harbour"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Wightlink_St_Catherine_Ferry_Gunwharf_Quays.jpg" caption="St Catherine]]''"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Wightlink_Cenwulf.jpg" caption="Cenwulf]]'', one of the former Lymington – Yarmouth ferries"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/OurLadyPamela.jpg" caption="Our Lady Pamela]]'' crossing the Solent"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/St_Helen-image19.jpg" caption="St Faith]]'', 2013"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/St_Cecilia-image04.jpg" caption="St Cecilia]]'', July 2013"] ::
::data[format=table]
| Ferry | Entered service | Route |
|---|---|---|
| {{MV | St Faith | }} |
| {{MV | St Clare | }} |
| 2018 | Portsmouth to Fishbourne | |
| {{MV | Wight Sun | }} |
| {{MV | Wight Light | }} |
| {{MV | Wight Sky | }} |
| :: |
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.
High-speed craft
::data[format=table]
| Catamaran | Entered service | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HSC Wight Ryder I | 2009 | Portsmouth to Ryde |
| HSC Wight Ryder II | 2009 | Portsmouth to Ryde |
| :: |
Historic fleet
The following ferries have operated historically on routes run by Wightlink or previous companies that have been absorbed by Wightlink.
Lymington-Yarmouth
::data[format=table]
| Ship | Service | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS Glasgow | 1830–1850 | Solent Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Red Lion | 1858–1880 | Solent Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Solent | 1841–1861 | Solent Steam Packet Co | |
| 1863 –1901 | Solent Steam Packet Co | ||
| 1866 | Solent Steam Packet Co | ||
| PS Lymington | 1893 | London and South Western Railway | |
| 1902 | London and South Western Railway | ||
| PS Freshwater | 1927-1959 | Southern Railway | Sold and renamed Sussex Queen, renamed Swanage Queen |
| 1938–1973 | Southern Railway | First Voith Schneider driven ferry. Sold and renamed Sound of Sanda | |
| PMV Farringford | 1948–1974 | British Transport Commission | |
| MV Freshwater | 1959–1983 | British Transport Commission | 2x 320bhp 8cyl Crossley diesels |
| 1973–2009 | Wightlink | Scrapped 2010 | |
| 1974–2009 | Wightlink | Scrapped 2010 | |
| 1983–2009 | Wightlink | Scrapped 2010 | |
| :: |
Portsmouth-Ryde
::data[format=table]
| Ship | Service | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS Arrow | 1825–1851 | Portsmouth & Ryde Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Union | 1825 | Portsmouth & Ryde Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Lord Yarborough | 1826–1851 | Portsmouth & Ryde Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Lord Spencer | 1833 | ||
| PS Prince Albert | 1847–1868 | Portsmouth & Ryde Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Prince of Wales | 1850 | Portsea, Portsmouth, Gosport & Isle of Wight Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Princess Royal | 1850 | Portsea, Portsmouth, Gosport & Isle of Wight Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Her Majesty | 1850-1883 | Portsmouth & Ryde Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Prince Consort | 1859–1882 | Port of Portsmouth & Ryde United Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Princess of Wales | 1865–1885 | ||
| PS Duke of Edinburgh | 1869–1884 | ||
| PS Princess Alice | 1869–1882 | ||
| PS Ventnor | 1873–1879 | Southsea & Isle of Wight Steam Packet Co | |
| PS Shanklin | |||
| PS Ryde | |||
| PS Southsea | |||
| SS Princess Louise | 1873–1874 | Port of Portsmouth & Ryde United Steam Packet Co | |
| SS Princess Beatrice | 1874-1874 | ||
| PS Heather Bell | 1875 | ||
| PS Albert Edward | 1878 | ||
| PS Alexandra | 1879–1913 | Sold to Cosens & Co Ltd | |
| PS Victoria | 1881–1899 | Joint Railway Companies Steampacket Service | |
| PS Duchess of Edinburgh | 1884–1910 | ||
| PS Duchess of Connaught | 1884–1910 | ||
| PS Duchess of Albany | 1890–1927 | ||
| PS Princess Margaret | 1893–1927 | ||
| PS Duchess of Kent | 1897–1933 | Sold and renamed Clacton Queen | |
| 1890–1929 | |||
| PS Duchess of Richmond | 1910–1915 | Mined in the Mediterranean | |
| 1911–1937 | Sold and renamed Embassy. Scrapped June 1967 | ||
| 1924–1950 | Southern Railway | Sold and renamed Monarch | |
| 1928–1952 | |||
| 1928–1941 | Mined off Southsea | ||
| 1930–1941 | J113 HMS Southsea mined off the River Tyne | ||
| 1930–1962 | J136 HMS Whippingham in WW2 | ||
| 1934–1965 | J20 HMS Sandown in WW2, evacuated 3,000 men at Dunkirk | ||
| 1937–1969 | J132 HMS Ryde in WW2, Sold for use as a floating hotel and later a nightclub. Subsequent attempts at preservation finally failed in 2018. | ||
| 1948–1986 | British Transport Commission | ||
| 1948–1988 | British Transport Commission | Acquired for preservation, ultimately unsuccessful. Scrapped 2005. | |
| 1951–1980 | British Transport Commission | Sold and renamed Prince Ivanhoe. Holed and beached in 1981. Scrapped in 1984. | |
| 1986–2006 | Wightlink | Scrapped 2006 | |
| 1986–2008 | Wightlink | Scrapped 2008 | |
| 1996–2009 | Wightlink | Sold and renamed Sochi 2 | |
| 1996–2010 | Wightlink | Sold and renamed Rapparee, resold and renamed Sochi 1 | |
| :: |
Portsmouth-Fishbourne
::data[format=table]
| Ship | Service | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MV Fishbourne | 1927–1961 | Southern Railway | Sent to Dunkirk in 1940, 2x 120bhp Gardner 4T7 semi diesels |
| MV Wootton | 1928–1961 | Southern Railway | Sent to Dunkirk in 1940, 2x 120bhp Gardner 4T7 semi diesels |
| MV Hilsea | 1930–1961 | Southern Railway | 2x 120bhp Gardner 4T7 semi diesels |
| MV Fishbourne | 1961–1983 | British Transport Commission | IMO5115587, 2x 320bhp 8cyl Crossley diesels |
| MV Camber Queen | 1961–1984 | British Transport Commission | 2x 320bhp 8cyl Crossley diesels |
| 1969–1986 | Wightlink | Sold and renamed Mira Praia | |
| 1973–1983 | Wightlink | Transferred to Lymington - Yarmouth route. Scrapped 2010 | |
| 1983–2010 | Wightlink | Sold to Delcomar, Sardinia and renamed GB Conte | |
| 1983–2015 | Wightlink | Sold to Delcomar, Sardinia and renamed Anna Mur | |
| {{MV | St Cecilia | }} | 1987–2019 |
| :: |
Langstone Harbour-Bembridge
::data[format=table]
| Ship | Service | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TF Carrier | 1885–1888 | Isle of Wight Marine Transit Co | Ex Firth of Tay train ferry. Scrapped 1888 due to being ill-suited for the Solent |
| :: |
References
Bibliography
References
- [https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/kUkaTTBabV3W1o0oitS4iucF3urDindPnLfXd74SCyE/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3DVUTNJ6V%2F20230920%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20230920T120328Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOj%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQDfVweTl%2FgdD394%2F0bWUOw2l8t2RWiN71LiTt573IsgewIhANDT0etxitjiAiyfeIxkW1TVhdbZYhPInRtzGH1bwesOKsQFCND%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEQBBoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgxxhjHeS%2Brp8wzBVAMqmAU38h12SqATmrhb7FgAtWUpA7NxI6UogYrUGD47jxAjQ2FrlLJ9rWISrKhQJD%2FPgGPOpCPCb92cpy721l3vVSmRPqFDeCJA%2Bx%2FrpcMA5Kl%2F2qesuMBWVr1JS56zfl5uW0kNKrnVneJee6bJ%2BSlSqyMWw8BvYakRM6Pf68Yf%2BC6O%2Fl39u5PIwxSEwSNDxGJoYhVFA6IID0%2Bjsop2fWJVggK6T0YWet%2FEoR73aA2RKE%2FmXnLl2aI6jOJKkXs1u6z9IB7HLOmb8dxpqwrGjW0JNMIAA9Zc3KVKloRGUXDKvuC3DE%2FMjIiJsHtfDJPEk%2BXnhMWGPE0VE%2FpvU8e9df4KJnBJBY55E4gIBKYWzUqa8tdtcw74n3oOpxAVTaVrttPpAwhGfQ2yHdu2J%2BTaosod0%2FiGKN9YGMjQEhidlm%2F7Nq3zwjcgR6qvl7D%2Fn9tjmKNMizgR2l5mFhCFnxyvHAJ5l%2BI8KXv1i34LtKgLJ5a6PhifqCn1C8YAnO9utqzYqYXvLeqDmIpBT4vRXZT09QeljBySBnHzBaMzUumoTtMB6eAwz4wEXGEJ9hheMBlODL6um%2BtD0aOM%2BCgpWfy1FSNh6KOJh8uFBr5pyZc%2F53r%2FHzxPC0ja%2BRdismYdqujkjgd6xy3IIUN3AKbMW%2FNAy2D%2BwLYBm9Pm8tMniPFih2CpY9f1emGbighbbJcZXiMlU302j34ZOMjS669wrQ2lZ1c1nbs38Ht8l09K2QLq7jwtmq9GM3TzljVqKpnVdr8ru%2BGzUovtqGyMkSPaTaqwQAzjPCyFHw8165%2FkxZCik9op3ZXQnNoUQ7u6Dum5DZYQ3gbLO0r%2BKRMb1Ld8FzEoPSmRSkZtDhDxFhC6DBKEa8H8RRLOof%2F0XiHxw0LdMNC5qqgGOrAB9W%2FenpI2c0Q7KatdwhSe7RulgrarUh9lTPY%2BPRnKfwmxk9L3AK117W5z1Sl3nTPkNjc0BDmdypQPiLvXc5w61%2FCzkMpRxda5WsZMMpN299i6rpfs%2FpRZhKLEshJ1bTclN5LBjavFeWwX733cKoWobwsZ%2F1pTtCD2CZ3117xwlvCsxzpdkCckLmu%2FCL4ROyyvHRqL3tTO3TzczOvX%2FAvlvQpFJKJfNlCIFT6ZvSXIx1U%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=256af6afe3046d11024ce1758c8d4fa8b50b8094a5a620448b360af9b1e7b445 Annual report for year ended 26 March 2022] Wightlink
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090221033303/https://www.wightlink.co.uk/about-us/history.aspx History] Wightlink
- Sealink sale confirmed ''[[Modern Railways]]'' issue 432 September 1984 page 454
- Intelligence ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' September 1984 page 662
- In June 1995 Wightlink was the subject of a [[management buyout]].[https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5613926.wightlink-sold-to-its-management/ Wightlink sold to its management] ''[[Southern Daily Echo]]'' 17 October 2001
- "Fragile - a belated Isle of Wight film review".
- (7 November 2008). "Threat to ferry route". [[Isle of Wight County Press]].
- (14 November 2008). "Isle of Wight: MP Andrew Turner asks why introduction of new Wightlink ferry is being delayed". [[Isle of Wight County Press]].
- "New Lymington Timetable". Wightlink.
- Andrew Wilson. (20 November 2008). "Introduction of new Ferries".
- "Fuel Surcharge". Wightlink.
- "Portsmouth to Fishbourne Investment". Wightlink.
- (Summer 2008). "Portsmouth to Fishbourne Car Ferry Service – The Way Forward". Wightlink.
- Lorraine Parker. (18 April 2008). "Wightlink Stretching Capacity on Board". [[Isle of Wight County Press]].
- "Article Search".
- (16 February 2015). "Wightlink bought by Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners". Isle of Wight County Press.
- (16 February 2015). "Cross-Solent island ferry firm sold". [[BBC News]].
- Wightlink changes hands ''[[Ships Monthly]]'' May 2015 page 11
- "Wightlink invests £45 million in a new ship and port facilities".
- (15 May 2015). "New island ferry in £45m investment". BBC News.
- (6 July 2016). "Balfour Beatty sells its Infrastructure Partners business". World Highways.
- (1 July 2016). "Balfour Beatty exits from BBIP". Stock Market Wire.
- (15 August 2017). "Wightlink reveals the name of its new flagship".
- (10 June 2019). "Ferry firm 50% stake sold to investor". BBC News.
- "History of Isle of Wight Ferries – Wightlink".
- Hendy, John. (1989) Sealink Isle of Wight, Ferry Publications
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