Steel cutting has started for Wightlink's new Portsmouth-Fishbourne service vessels where the current largest unit is ST.CLARE, dating from 2001. Photo © Wightlink)

Work begins on Wightlink's most environmentally friendly ferry

FerrySteel cutting has started in Turkey for a passenger and vehicle ferry due to enter service between Portsmouth-Fishbourne for Wightlink in summer 2018. The order is part of a MGBP45 'Investing for the Future' programme for the operator bought in February 2015 by Balfour Beatty Infrastructure from the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund.

Wightlink claim the 1,000 passenger/178 car double ended vessel wil be the most environmentally friendly ferry ever built for Solent service. When completed at Yalova it will use diesel electric hybrid propulsion with waste heat from generators going for onboard heating. Motion activated LED-lighting is also expected to bring a significant carbon footprint reduction. Wightlink's investment will also see double deck vehicle boarding ramps fitted at Portsmouth's Gunwharf Terminal and at Fishbourne together with terminal improvements.

The Remontowa, Poland-built 5,359gt ST.CLARE, dating from 2001, is currently the largest Fishbourne route vessel handling 800 passengers and 200 cars with support from Selby-built sisters ST.CECILIA (1987) and ST.FAITH (1990) taking 1,000 passengers and 142 cars on the 45 minute crossings with up to 36 return trips a day. There are also periodic relief appearances by WIGHT SUN one of three smaller 360 passenger/65 car vessels built in Croatia for the Lymington-Yarmouth service and delivered in 2009.

Nov 04 2016