Isle of Wight ferry services

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There are currently three different ferry companies that operate vessels carrying passengers and, on certain routes, vehicles across the Solent, the stretch of sea that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England. These are Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.

Contents

The Hovertravel fleet at Ryde. Hovertravel fleet at Ryde.JPG
The Hovertravel fleet at Ryde.

History

Early sail crossings

Since the Isle of Wight was separated from mainland Britain, probably about 7000 years ago, [1] vessels have transported people and goods across the Solent.[ citation needed ] However the earliest record of an Isle of Wight ferry service is from 1420 when the Lord of the Manor in Ashey was responsible for boats crossing between Portsmouth and Ryde. By the 17th century a rota of Ryde fishermen were required, on penalty of a fine, to make daily return crossings to Portsmouth. [2]

In 1796 a purpose-built sailing boat called The Packet began a regular service between Portsmouth and Ryde, and by 1811 two daily return trips were made between the Bugle Inn in Ryde and the Quebec Tavern in Portsmouth. [2] At that time the boats, known as Ryde Wherries, [2] had to anchor a considerable distance away from the shore at Ryde, and passengers were transported by horse, cart or on men's backs across the wide and shallow sands to the town. [3] This problem was resolved in 1814 when Ryde Pier was completed.

The introduction of steam power

In 1817 the first steamship ferry, Britannia, began to operate on the Portsmouth–Ryde route, [2] but she was found to be unsuitable for her role and quickly withdrawn. The first successful steam-powered regular service on the route began on 5 April 1825 with the paddle steamer PS Union. Meanwhile, in 1820 the paddle steamer PS Prince of Coburg had begun a service between Cowes and Southampton. [4]

The success of the paddle steamers prompted a period of company formation. In 1827 the Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company (P&RSPC) was formed and took over the running of the PS Union. This was followed in 1849 by the Portsea, Portsmouth, Gosport and Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (PPG&IWSPC) operating on the same route. These amalgamated on 1 January 1852 as the Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company (PP&RUSPC). In 1873 the Southsea and Isle of Wight Steam Ferry Company (S&IWSFC) began operating between Clarence Pier, Southsea and Ryde but was quickly taken over by the PP&RUSPC in 1876. [5]

On the Southampton – Cowes route the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IWRMSPC) was formed in 1820 and the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (IWSPC) in 1826. These merged in 1861, becoming the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IW&SERMSPC). [4] This company became commonly known as Red Funnel in 1935 and is still operating in 2021.

On the Western Solent, the first steam connection between Lymington and Yarmouth was by the Glasgow in March 1830, operated by Lymington owners and continuing also to Cowes, Southampton, Ryde and Portsmouth on various days. [2]

The era of railway ownership

By 1880 railway lines connected to both the Ryde Pier and the Portsmouth Harbour ferry terminals. It was therefore a natural progression for the railway companies to acquire the ferry routes themselves. To do this the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) and the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) jointly formed the South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service (SW&BRCSPS). [6] This new company bought out the PP&RUSPC and the era of railway ownership of the Ryde Portsmouth route began.

In 1884 the Isle of Wight Marine Transit Company started a rail freight ferry link between the Hayling Island Branch line at Langstone and the Bembridge branch line at St Helens quay. To provide the link the rail ferry PS Carrier was moved from Scotland. The project was unsuccessful and despite being acquired in full by the LB&SCR in 1886 ended in 1888. [6] It remains the only rail ferry to have operated a service to the Isle of Wight.

In 1884 the Lymington service was bought by the L&SWR. [4]

In addition to paddle steamers, the SW&BRCSPS used tow boats and a tug to carry livestock and subsequently motor cars from Broad Street, Portsmouth to the slipway at George Street, Ryde. [6]

During the First World War four of the SW&BRCSPS paddle steamers were commandeered by the Royal Navy as minesweepers, leaving only two behind. The PS Duchess of Richmond was lost to a mine in the Mediterranean Sea. [6]

On 1 January 1923 the SW&BRCSPS was taken over by Southern Railway which had been created in the Grouping ordered by the Railways Act 1921. [5]

Present Day

Three commercial ferry operators currently provide services across the Solent. These are Hovertravel, Red Funnel and Wightlink. A list of routes is described below. [7]

RouteOperatorType of craftJourney time
Southsea to Ryde Hovertravel Hovercraft10 minutes
Portsmouth to Ryde Wightlink Catamaran22 minutes
Portsmouth to Fishbourne Wightlink Car Ferry45 minutes
Southampton to West Cowes Red Funnel Catamaran25 minutes
Southampton to East Cowes Red Funnel Car Ferry1 hour
Lymington to Yarmouth Wightlink Car Ferry40 minutes

Vessels

NameType†Operator(s)††Route(s)†††In serviceOut of serviceNotesImage
PS Brittania
[ spelling? ]		PPR1817Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1816. Unsuccessful experiment with steam power. Quickly withdrawn from service
PS UnionPP&RSPCPR1825
PS ArrowPP&RSPCPR1825
PS Lord YarboroughPP&RSPCPR1826
PS Earl SpencerPP&RSPCPR1833
Prince AlbertPPR1847
Her MajestyPPR1850
LindseyPPR1850
Prince of WalesPPR1850
Princess RoyalPPR1850
Prince ConsortPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18591882Built by J. Scott Russel, London
Princess of WalesPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18651885Built by Lewis & Stockwell, London
GarelochPPR1863
ChancellorPPR1863
Duke of EdinburghPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18691884Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Princess AlicePPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18691882Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
VentnorPPR1873
ShanklinPPR1873
SouthseaPPR1873
RydePPR1873
Heather BellPPR1876
Albert EdwardPPR1878
AlexandraPPR1879
VictoriaPPR1881
PS CarrierRIWMTC, LB&SCRLS18841888Built in 1858 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Greenock. Failed rail ferry project. Sold in 1892 to Swedish company.
Duchess of Edinburgh PPR1884
Duchess of Connaught PPR1884
Duchess of Albany PPR1889
Princess Margaret PPR1893
Duchess of Kent PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18971933Built by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Replaced by PS Sandown
Duchess of Fife PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18991929Built by Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Duchess of Richmond PSW&BRCSPSPR19101915Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Mined and sank in Med.
Duchess of Norfolk PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR19111937Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Shanklin PPR19241950Sold to Cosens & Co Ltd and renamed Monarch
As Monarch at Swanage Pier Paddle steamer moored at Swanage pier (geograph 4349690).jpg
As Monarch at Swanage Pier
Merstone PPR1928
Portsdown PPR1928
Southsea PPR1930
Whippingham PPR1930
Sandown PPR1934
Sandown and Ryde at Portsmouth Harbour 15 July 1965 Isle of Wight ferries at Portsmouth Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1340486.jpg
Sandown and Ryde at Portsmouth Harbour 15 July 1965
PS Ryde PPSSR, BRPR19371970Built by Denny in Dumbarton
In Portsmouth in 1969 PS Ryde in 1969.jpg
In Portsmouth in 1969
SouthseaPPR1948
BradingPPR1948
TSMV Shanklin PSLPR19511980Built by Denny in Dumbarton. Renamed Prince Ivanhoe and sank off Welsh coast in 1981
Shanklin Isle of Wight ferry in Portsmouth Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1379769.jpg
Shanklin
HSC Our Lady Patricia PCSL / WLPR19862006
HSC Our Lady Pamela PCSL / WLPR19862006
HSC Fastcat Shanklin PCWLPR20002009
HSC Fastcat Ryde PCWLPR20002010
HSC Fastcat Ryde in 2002 Fastcat1.JPG
HSC Fastcat Ryde in 2002
MV Fishbourne (1927) VPPF19271961Built by Denny in Dumbarton [8]
MV Wooton VPPF19281961Built by Denny in Dumbarton [8]
HilseaVPPF1931
MV Lymington VPPF1938Built by Denny in Dumbarton
FarringfordVPPF1948
FreshwaterVPPF1959
Camber QueenVPPF1961
MV Fishbourne (1961) VPPF19611983Built by Philip & Son in Dartmouth [8]
MV Cuthred VPSLPF19691984Built by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd in Lowestoft
ShearwaterPHRFSC19691973
Shearwater 2PHRFSC19701971
Shearwater 3PHRFSC19721992
Shearwater 4PHRFSC19731992
Shearwater 5PHRFSC19821999
MV Caedmon VPSL / WLPF(1973) / LY(1983)19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Caedmon Wightlink Caedmon.jpg
MV Caedmon
MV Cenwulf VPSL / WLPF(1973) / LY(1983)19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenwulf Wightlink Cenwulf.jpg
MV Cenwulf
MV Cenred VPSL / WLPF(1974) / LY(1983)19742009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenred Wightlink Cenred.jpg
MV Cenred
MV St Catherine VPSL / WLPF19832010
MV St Catherine in 2008 Wightlink St Catherine Ferry Gunwharf Quays.jpg
MV St Catherine in 2008
MV St Helen VPSL / WLPF19832015
MV St Helen in 2008 St Helen Wightlink.jpg
MV St Helen in 2008
MV St Cecilia VPSL / WLPF19872019Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Cecilia in 2008 Wightlink - MV St Cecilia.JPG
MV St Cecilia in 2008
MV St Faith VPWLPF1990Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Clare VPWLPF2001
MV St Clare in 2003 WightlinkStClare.jpg
MV St Clare in 2003
PS GemPIWSPC, RFSC18401883Built by J. White, Cowes. Scrapped in 1889.
PS RubyPIWRMSPC, RFSC18411872Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam for the South Western & Isle of Wight Steam Navigation Co as 'The Pride of the Waters'
PS PearlPIWRMSPC, RFSC18441867Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam. Scrapped in 1875
PS Queen (I)PIWRMSPC, RFSC18481876Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS Prince of CoburgPIWSPCSC1820Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1817
Earl of MalmsburyPIWSPCSC
George IVPIWSPCSC
PS Medina (I)PIWRMSPC, RFSC18521882Built by J. White, Cowes as The Times
PS EmeraldPIWSPC, RFSC18571871Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS SaphirePIWSPC, RFSC18601873Built by CA Day. Northam.
MV Carisbrooke Castle VPRFSC19591974Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to operator in Naples [9]
MV Osborne Castle VPRFSC19621978Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to a Canadian ferry company.
MV Cowes Castle VPRFSC19651994Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Norris Castle VPRFSC19681994Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Netley Castle VPRFSC19741997Built by Ryton Marine Ltd in Wallsend. Sold to operator in Croatia [9]
MV Bergen CastleVPRFSC20032005Purchased by Red Funnel to maintain a 3 ship service while the Raptor class where away being refitted
MV Red Eagle VPRFSC1996
MV Red Eagle in 2005 Red Eagle (Red Funnel).jpg
MV Red Eagle in 2005
MV Red Falcon VPRFSC1994
MV Red Falcon in 2009 Red Falcon.JPG
MV Red Falcon in 2009
MV Red Osprey VPRFSC1994
MV Red Osprey in 2009 Red Osprey in IKEA livery.JPG
MV Red Osprey in 2009
Red Jet 1PCRFSC19912009
Red Jet 2PCRFSC19922009
Red Jet 3 PCRFSC19982019
MV Red Jet 4 PCRFSC2003
MV Red Jet 4 in 2006 Fast ferry to the Isle of Wight.jpg
MV Red Jet 4 in 2006
Red Jet 5 PCRFSC20092016
MV Wight Light VPWLLY2009
MV Wight Light in 2008 WightLight.JPG
MV Wight Light in 2008
MV Wight Sky VPWLLY2009
MV Wight Sky in 2009 Wight Sky at the Yarmouth ferry terminal.JPG
MV Wight Sky in 2009
MV Wight Sun VPWLLY2009
Freedom 90HHTSR19902018
Island ExpressHHTSR20022017
Solent ExpressHHTSR20072011The Solent Express was used on Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft passenger trials in 2007.
Solent Express in 2007 Solent-Express-by-James-T-M-Towill.jpg
Solent Express in 2007
Solent FlyerHHTSR2016
Island FlyerHHTSR2016
Red Jet 6 PCRFSC2016
Red Jet 7 PCRFSC2018
MV Victoria of Wight VPWLPF2018
MV Victoria of Wight in 2018 MV Victoria of Wight leaving Portsmouth 31st Aug 2018.jpeg
MV Victoria of Wight in 2018
MV Red Kestrel FRFSC2019Operates as a freight only vessel
Key
†Vessel typeP = Passenger, VP = Vehicle and passenger, PC = Passenger catamaran, PPS = Passenger paddle steamer, H = Hovercraft, F = Freight, PH = Passenger Hydrofoil
††OperatorsRF = Red Funnel, WL = Wightlink, HT = Hovertravel, SL = Sealink, IWSPC = Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company, IWRMSPC = Isle of Wight royal mail steam packet company,
P&RSPC = Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company, SW&BRCSPS = South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service, PP&RUSPC = Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company,
†††RoutesPR = Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, PF = Portsmouth Harbour to Fishbourne, SC = Southampton to Cowes, SR = Southsea to Ryde, LY = Lymington to Yarmouth


Related Research Articles

Wightlink Ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes across The Solent between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern 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 owned by Basalt Infrastructure Partners and Fiera Infrastructure.

Red Funnel Ferry company operating routes between Southampton and the Isle of Wight

Red Funnel, formally the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, is a ferry company that carries passengers, vehicles and freight on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. High-speed foot passenger catamarans, known as Red Jets, run between Southampton and Cowes, while vehicle ferries run between Southampton and East Cowes.

Ryde Pier

Ryde Pier is an early 19th century pier serving the town of Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. It is the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier. Ryde Pier Head railway station is at the sea end of the pier, and Ryde Esplanade railway station at the land end, both served by Island Line trains.

Lymington branch line

The Lymington branch line is a railway that runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier, both in the New Forest. The railway line is around 9 km (5.6 mi) long, and is single track throughout its length. It diverges from the South West Main Line at Lymington Junction; and, at Lymington Pier, trains connect with Wightlink ferry services to Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight. The Lymington branch line is electrified using the 750 V DC third-rail system as is usual in the former Southern Region of British Railways.

Sealink Former ferry company in the United Kingdom

Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland.

Hovertravel is a ferry company operating from Southsea, Portsmouth to Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. It is the only passenger hovercraft company currently operating in Britain since Hoverspeed stopped using its craft in favour of catamarans and subsequently ceased all ferry operations in 2005.

MV <i>Wight Light</i> Isle of Wight passenger and vehicle ferry

MV Wight Light is a car and passenger ferry built for the British ferry operator Wightlink. She is in service between mainland England and the Isle of Wight.

PS <i>Ryde</i>

PS Ryde is a paddle steamer that was commissioned and run by Southern Railway as a passenger ferry between mainland England and the Isle of Wight from 1937 to 1969, with an interlude during the Second World War where she served as a minesweeper and then an anti-aircraft ship, seeing action at D-Day. After many years abandoned on moorings at Island Harbour Marina on the River Medina, she was purchased by the PS Ryde Trust in late 2018, with the intention of raising money for her restoration. That project was abandoned in January 2019.

TSMV <i>Shanklin</i>

TSMV Shanklin was a passenger ferry that operated between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight between 1951 and 1980. Renamed Prince Ivanhoe she went on to become a pleasure cruiser in the Bristol Channel but in 1981 sank off the Welsh coast on her first season.

MV <i>Red Osprey</i> Isle of Wight car and passenger ferry

MV Red Osprey is a Raptor Class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow.

The River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd (RDSC) and its predecessors, the Dartmouth Steam Packet Company and the Dartmouth and Torbay Steam Packet Company, were the major ferry and excursion boat operators on the River Dart in South Devon for 120 years, until the company's demise in 1976. The company was famous for its distinctive paddle steamers, which were a familiar sight on the river until the late 1960s.

Shipping services of the London and South Western Railway

This article describes the shipping services of the London and South Western Railway and the vessels employed.

The Solent Sea Steam Packet Company, later the Solent Steam Packet Company, operated ferry services between Lymington and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight between 1841 and 1884.

Blue Funnel Group refers to a related set of companies providing boat charter, cruise and ferry services around the Solent and Isle of Wight in vessels up to 500 passengers. The Blue Funnel Cruises operating out of Southampton Port and the Solent and Wightline Cruises operating out of Portsmouth and Cowes as well as Blue Funnel Ferries Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry operations are all run independently but co-operatively.

MV <i>Victoria of Wight</i> Isle of Wight passenger and vehicle ferry

MV Victoria of Wight is a ship sailing on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route operated by Wightlink. She entered service on 26 August 2018. Built by the Cemre Shipyard in Yalova for £30 million, she is the newest ship in the fleet and completed Wightlink's £45 million investment in the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route. In addition, upon introduction into service Victoria of Wight became the largest ship in the fleet and the new flagship.

TSMV <i>Brading</i> British passenger ferry (1948-1986)

TSMV Brading was a passenger ferry that operated between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight between 1948 and 1986.

TSMV <i>Southsea</i> British passenger ferry (1948-1987)

TSMV Southsea was a passenger ferry that operated between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight between 1948 and 1987.

PS Gracie Fields was a paddle steamer built in 1936 as a ferry and excursion steamer for Red Funnel of Southampton at the Thornycroft yard at Woolston. She ran on the Southampton-Cowes route until the outbreak of World War II, when she was requisitioned and served as HMS Gracie Fields as a minesweeper. After successfully evacuating troops from the Dunkirk beaches, she was seriously damaged by an aircraft bomb on 29 May 1940, and sank the following morning.

References

  1. ↑ "Geology – The Official Isle of Wight Tourism Website" . Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Archer, Lynette; Woodford, John (2003). Ryde Postcards. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing Limited. p. 11. ISBN   0-7524-2954-X.
  3. 1 2 3 O'Brien, Capt F T O. Early Solent Steamers: A History of Local Steam Navigation.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Alan (1985). Shanklin Ill Fated Prince. Troon: Waverley Excursions Ltd. ISBN   0-9505177-1-2.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Jordan, S (1998). Ferry Services of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Usk: The Oakwood Press. ISBN   0-85361-521-7.
  6. ↑ "Isle of Wight Ferries - VisitIsleOfWight.co.uk". Visit Isle Of Wight. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Faulkner, John. The Fishbourne Car Ferry. Colourpoint Books. ISBN   978-1-904242-87-1.
  8. 1 2 "Red Funnel: Vessel Archive 1951–1980". Red Funnel. Retrieved 11 May 2009.

Bibliography

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