Wikipedia

Isle of Wight ferry services

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.

The Hovertravel fleet at Ryde.

History

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Early sail crossings

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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

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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began to operate on the Portsmouth–Ryde route,[2] but she was found to be unsuitable for her role and quickly withdrawn.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

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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

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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]

Route Operator Type of craft Journey time
Southsea to Ryde Hovertravel Hovercraft 10 minutes
Portsmouth to Ryde Wightlink Catamaran 22 minutes
Portsmouth to Fishbourne Wightlink Car Ferry 45 minutes
Southampton to West Cowes Red Funnel Catamaran 25 minutes
Southampton to East Cowes Red Funnel Car Ferry 1 hour
Lymington to Yarmouth Wightlink Car Ferry 40 minutes

Vessels

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Name Type† Operator(s)†† Route(s)††† In service Out of service Notes Image
PS Brittania
[spelling?]		 P PR 1817 Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1816. Unsuccessful experiment with steam power. Quickly withdrawn from service
PS Union P P&RSPC PR 1825
PS Arrow P P&RSPC PR 1825
PS Lord Yarborough P P&RSPC PR 1826
PS Earl Spencer P P&RSPC PR 1833
Prince Albert P PR 1847
Her Majesty P PR 1850
Lindsey P PR 1850
Prince of Wales P PR 1850
Princess Royal P PR 1850
Prince Consort P PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS PR 1859 1882 Built by J. Scott Russel, London
Princess of Wales P PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS PR 1865 1885 Built by Lewis & Stockwell, London
Gareloch P PR 1863
Chancellor P PR 1863
Duke of Edinburgh P PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS PR 1869 1884 Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Princess Alice P PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS PR 1869 1882 Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Ventnor P PR 1873
Shanklin P PR 1873
Southsea P PR 1873
Ryde P PR 1873
Heather Bell P PR 1876
Albert Edward P PR 1878
Alexandra P PR 1879
Victoria P PR 1881
PS Carrier R IWMTC, LB&SCR LS 1884 1888 Built in 1858 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Greenock. Failed rail ferry project. Sold in 1892 to Swedish company.
Duchess of Edinburgh P PR 1884
Duchess of Connaught P PR 1884
Duchess of Albany P PR 1889
Princess Margaret P PR 1893
Duchess of Kent P SW&BRCSPS, SR PR 1897 1933 Built by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Replaced by PS Sandown
Duchess of Fife P SW&BRCSPS, SR PR 1899 1929 Built by Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Duchess of Richmond P SW&BRCSPS PR 1910 1915 Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Mined and sank in Med.
Duchess of Norfolk P SW&BRCSPS, SR PR 1911 1937 Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Shanklin P PR 1924 1950 Sold to Cosens & Co Ltd and renamed Monarch
 
As Monarch at Swanage Pier
Merstone P PR 1928
Portsdown P PR 1928
Southsea P PR 1930
Whippingham P PR 1930
Sandown P PR 1934
 
Sandown and Ryde at Portsmouth Harbour 15 July 1965
PS Ryde PPS SR, BR PR 1937 1970 Built by Denny in Dumbarton
 
In Portsmouth in 1969
Southsea P PR 1948
Brading P PR 1948
TSMV Shanklin P SL PR 1951 1980 Built by Denny in Dumbarton. Renamed Prince Ivanhoe and sank off Welsh coast in 1981
 
Shanklin
HSC Our Lady Patricia PC SL / WL PR 1986 2006
HSC Our Lady Pamela PC SL / WL PR 1986 2006
HSC Fastcat Shanklin PC WL PR 2000 2009
HSC Fastcat Ryde PC WL PR 2000 2010
 
HSC Fastcat Ryde in 2002
MV Fishbourne (1927) VP PF 1927 1961 Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
MV Wooton VP PF 1928 1961 Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
Hilsea VP PF 1931
MV Lymington VP PF 1938 Built by Denny in Dumbarton
Farringford VP PF 1948
Freshwater VP PF 1959
Camber Queen VP PF 1961
MV Fishbourne (1961) VP PF 1961 1983 Built by Philip & Son in Dartmouth[8]
MV Cuthred VP SL PF 1969 1984 Built by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd in Lowestoft
Shearwater PH RF SC 1969 1973
Shearwater 2 PH RF SC 1970 1971
Shearwater 3 PH RF SC 1972 1992
Shearwater 4 PH RF SC 1973 1992
Shearwater 5 PH RF SC 1982 1999
MV Caedmon VP SL / WL PF(1973) / LY(1983) 1973 2009 Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
 
MV Caedmon
MV Cenwulf VP SL / WL PF(1973) / LY(1983) 1973 2009 Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
 
MV Cenwulf
MV Cenred VP SL / WL PF(1974) / LY(1983) 1974 2009 Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
 
MV Cenred
MV St Catherine VP SL / WL PF 1983 2010
 
MV St Catherine in 2008
MV St Helen VP SL / WL PF 1983 2015
 
MV St Helen in 2008
MV St Cecilia VP SL / WL PF 1987 2019 Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
 
MV St Cecilia in 2008
MV St Faith VP WL PF 1990 Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Clare VP WL PF 2001
 
MV St Clare in 2003
PS Gem P IWSPC, RF SC 1840 1883 Built by J. White, Cowes. Scrapped in 1889.
PS Ruby P IWRMSPC, RF SC 1841 1872 Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam for the South Western & Isle of Wight Steam Navigation Co as 'The Pride of the Waters'
PS Pearl P IWRMSPC, RF SC 1844 1867 Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam. Scrapped in 1875
PS Queen (I) P IWRMSPC, RF SC 1848 1876 Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS Prince of Coburg P IWSPC SC 1820 Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1817
Earl of Malmsbury P IWSPC SC
George IV P IWSPC SC
PS Medina (I) P IWRMSPC, RF SC 1852 1882 Built by J. White, Cowes as The Times
PS Emerald P IWSPC, RF SC 1857 1871 Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS Saphire P IWSPC, RF SC 1860 1873 Built by CA Day. Northam.
MV Carisbrooke Castle VP RF SC 1959 1974 Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to operator in Naples[9]
MV Osborne Castle VP RF SC 1962 1978 Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to a Canadian ferry company.
MV Cowes Castle VP RF SC 1965 1994 Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Norris Castle VP RF SC 1968 1994 Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Netley Castle VP RF SC 1974 1997 Built by Ryton Marine Ltd in Wallsend. Sold to operator in Croatia[9]
MV Bergen Castle VP RF SC 2003 2005 Purchased by Red Funnel to maintain a 3 ship service while the Raptor class where away being refitted
MV Red Eagle VP RF SC 1996
 
MV Red Eagle in 2005
MV Red Falcon VP RF SC 1994
 
MV Red Falcon in 2009
MV Red Osprey VP RF SC 1994
 
MV Red Osprey in 2009
Red Jet 1 PC RF SC 1991 2009
Red Jet 2 PC RF SC 1992 2009
Red Jet 3 PC RF SC 1998 2019
Red Jet 4 PC RF SC 2003 2024
 
MV Red Jet 4 in 2006
Red Jet 5 PC RF SC 2009 2016
MV Wight Light VP WL LY 2009
 
MV Wight Light in 2008
MV Wight Sky VP WL LY 2009
 
MV Wight Sky in 2009
MV Wight Sun VP WL LY 2009
Freedom 90 H HT SR 1990 2018
Island Express H HT SR 2002 2017
Solent Express H HT SR 2007 2011 The Solent Express was used on Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft passenger trials in 2007.
 
Solent Express in 2007
Solent Flyer H HT SR 2016
Island Flyer H HT SR 2016
Red Jet 6 PC RF SC 2016
Red Jet 7 PC RF SC 2018
MV Victoria of Wight VP WL PF 2018
 
MV Victoria of Wight in 2018
MV Red Kestrel F RF SC 2019 Operates as a freight only vessel
Key
† Vessel type P = Passenger, VP = Vehicle and passenger, PC = Passenger catamaran, PPS = Passenger paddle steamer, H = Hovercraft, F = Freight, PH = Passenger Hydrofoil
†† Operators RF = 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,
††† Routes PR = Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, PF = Portsmouth Harbour to Fishbourne, SC = Southampton to Cowes, SR = Southsea to Ryde, LY = Lymington to Yarmouth


References

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  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. ^ a b c O'Brien, Capt F T O. Early Solent Steamers: A History of Local Steam Navigation.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Alan (1985). Shanklin Ill Fated Prince. Troon: Waverley Excursions Ltd. ISBN 0-9505177-1-2.
  5. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c Faulkner, John. The Fishbourne Car Ferry. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 978-1-904242-87-1.
  8. ^ a b "Red Funnel: Vessel Archive 1951–1980". Red Funnel. Retrieved 11 May 2009.

Bibliography

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  • Adams, R B (1986). Red Funnel and Before. Southampton, Hampshire: Kingfisher Railway Productions. ISBN 0-946184-21-6.
  • Haws, Duncan (1993). Britain's Railway Steamers: Western & Southern Companies + French & Stena. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 0-946378-21-5.
  • Hendy, John (1993). Wightlink: Isle of Wight Ferries (2nd ed.). Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 0951309366.
  • Hendy, John (2008). Lymington-Yarmouth: The New Generation. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608019.
  • Hendy, John (2010). Solent Seaways: Wightlink – Isle of Wight Ferries. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608118.
  • O'Brien, Capt F T O (1973). Early Solent Steamers: A History of Local Steam Navigation. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5654-2.(covers period up to the 1860s)
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