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.

History

Early sail crossings

Since the Isle of Wight was separated from mainland Britain, probably about 7000 years ago, vessels have transported people and goods across the Solent. 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.
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. At that time the boats, known as Ryde Wherries, 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. 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Britannia, began to operate on the Portsmouth–Ryde route, but she was found to be unsuitable for her role and quickly withdrawn.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.
The success of the paddle steamers prompted a period of company formation. In 1827 the Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company 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 operating on the same route. These amalgamated on 1 January 1852 as the Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company. In 1873 the Southsea and Isle of Wight Steam Ferry Company began operating between Clarence Pier, Southsea and Ryde but was quickly taken over by the PP&RUSPC in 1876.
On the Southampton – Cowes route the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was formed in 1820 and the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company in 1826. These merged in 1861, becoming the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. This company became commonly known as Red Funnel in 1935 and is still operating today.
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.

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 and the London and [South Western Railway] jointly formed the South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
RouteOperatorType of craftJourney time
Southsea to RydeHovertravelHovercraft10 minutes
Portsmouth to RydeWightlinkCatamaran22 minutes
Portsmouth to FishbourneWightlinkCar Ferry45 minutes
Southampton to West CowesRed FunnelCatamaran25 minutes
Southampton to East CowesRed FunnelCar Ferry1 hour
Lymington to YarmouthWightlinkCar Ferry40 minutes

Vessels

Vessels highlighted in Grey still serve the Isle of Wight
NameType†Operator††Route†††In serviceOut of serviceNotesImage
PS Brittania
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.-
PSW&BRCSPSPR18841910-
PSW&BRCSPSPR18841910-
PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18891928Built by Scotts, Greenock-
PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18931928Built by Scotts, Greenock-
PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18971933Built by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Replaced by PS Sandown-
PSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18991929Built by Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War-
PSW&BRCSPSPR19101915Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Mined and sank in Med.-
Duchess of NorfolkPSW&BRCSPS, SRPR19111937Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War-
PSRPR19241950Built by John I. Thornycroft & Company, Southampton
Sold to Cosens & Co Ltd and renamed Monarch
PSRPR19281950Built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee-
PSRPR19281940Built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee-
PSRPR19301941Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Goven-
PSR, BRPR19301963Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Goven-
PSR, BRPR19341966Built by Denny and Brothers|Denny] in Dumbarton
PPSSR, BRPR19371970Built by Denny in Dumbarton
TSMV SouthseaPSLPR19481988Built by Denny in Dumbarton
TSMV BradingPSLPR19481986Built by Denny in Dumbarton
TSMV ShanklinPSLPR19511980Built by Denny in Dumbarton.
Renamed Prince Ivanhoe and sank off Welsh coast in 1981
HSC Our Lady PatriciaPCSL / WLPR19862006Built by Incat, Australia
HSC Our Lady PamelaPCSL / WLPR19862006Built by Incat, Australia
HSC Fastcat ShanklinPCWLPR20002009
HSC Fastcat RydePCWLPR20002010
HSC Wight Ryder IPCWLPR2009
HSC Wight Ryder IIPCWLPR2009
VPPF19271961Built by Denny in Dumbarton-
VPSRPF19281961Built by Denny in Dumbarton-
HilseaVPPF1931-
VPSR, BRLY19381974Built by Denny in Dumbarton
Sold to Western Ferries as Sound of Sanda
FarringfordVPPF19481980Built by Denny in Dumbarton-
FreshwaterVPPF19591982Built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon
Sold to Western Ferries as Sound of Seil		-
Camber QueenVPSLPF19611984Built by Philip and Son in Dartmouth-
VPSLPF/LY19611983Built by Philip and Son in Dartmouth-
VPSLPF19691984Built by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd in Lowestoft-
ShearwaterPHRFSC19691973-
Shearwater 2PHRFSC19701971-
Shearwater 3PHRFSC19721992-
Shearwater 4PHRFSC19731992-
Shearwater 5PHRFSC19821999-
Shearwater 6PHRFSC19821999-
VPSL / WLPF / LY19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
VPSL / WLPF / LY19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
VPSL / WLPF / LY19742009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
VPSL / WLPF19832010Built by Robb Caledon Shipbuilders in Leith
VPSL / WLPF19832015Built by Robb Caledon Shipbuilders in Leith
VPSL / WLPF19872019Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
VPWLPF1990Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
VPWLPF2001Built by Remontowa, Gdańsk
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 PIWRMSPC, RFSC18481876Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.-
PS Prince of CoburgPIWSPCSC1820Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1817-
Earl of MalmsburyPIWSPCSC-
George IVPIWSPCSC-
PS Medina PIWRMSPC, RFSC18521882Built by J. White, Cowes as The Times-
PS EmeraldPIWSPC, RFSC18571871Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.-
PS SaphirePIWSPC, RFSC18601873Built by CA Day. Northam.-
PS Princess ElizabethPPSIWSPC, RFSC1927Built by Day, Summers and Company
MV Norris CastleVPRFSC19471962Built by Alexander Finlay & Co in Glasgow.
Originally constructed as a tank landing craft for the Normandy landings. Sold to a Greek operator.
MV BalmoralVPRFSC19491968Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.
Sold to P & A Campbell
MV Carisbrooke CastleVPRFSC19591974Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.
Sold to operator in Naples
VPRFSC19621978Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.
Sold to a Canadian ferry company.		-
VPRFSC19651994Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.
Sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Norris CastleVPRFSC19681994Built by J Thornycroft & Co in Woolston.
Sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
VPRFSC19741997Built by Ryton Marine Ltd in Wallsend.
Sold to operator in Croatia
MV Bergen CastleVPRFSC20032005Purchased by Red Funnel to maintain a 3 ship service while the Raptor class where away being refitted
MV Red EagleVPRFSC1996Built by Ferguson Shipbuilders
MV Red FalconVPRFSC1994Built by Ferguson Shipbuilders
MV Red OspreyVPRFSC1994Built by Ferguson Shipbuilders
Red Jet 1PCRFSC19912009Built by Fairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 2PCRFSC19922009Built by Fairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 3PCRFSC19982019Built by Fairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 4PCRFSC20032024Built by North West Bay Ships, Hobart
Red Jet 5PCRFSC20092016
MV Wight LightVPWLLY2009Built by Kraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
MV Wight SkyVPWLLY2009Built by Kraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
MV Wight SunVPWLLY2009Built by Kraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
Double-O-SevenHHTSR19892003Built by British Hovercraft Corporation
Freedom 90HHTSR19902018Built by British Hovercraft Corporation
CourierHHTSR19902000Built by British Hovercraft Corporation
Idun VikingHHTSR19972002Built by British Hovercraft Corporation
Island ExpressHHTSR20022017Built by British Hovercraft Corporation
Solent ExpressHHTSR20072011Built by Griffon Hoverwork, Southampton
The Solent Express was used on Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft passenger trials in 2007.
Solent FlyerHHTSR2016Built by Griffon Hoverwork, Southampton
Island FlyerHHTSR2016Built by Griffon Hoverwork, Southampton
Red Jet 6PCRFSC2016Built by Wight Shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Red Jet 7PCRFSC2018Built by Wight Shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight
MV Victoria of WightVPWLPF2018Built by Cemre Shipyard, Turkey
MV Red KestrelFRFSC2019Built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Operates as a freight only vessel