Ferry services between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight have been disrupted after a vessel struck a berth at Gunwharf on Tuesday morning.
Wightlink confirmed that its ship, St Clare, was involved in what it described as a “heavy berthing incident” at around eight o’clock. The collision caused damage to port infrastructure as well as the vessel itself, leading to the temporary suspension of sailings on the Portsmouth Gunwharf to Fishbourne route.
As a result of the incident, passengers on board were left temporarily stranded, with the ferry unable to load or unload vehicles or foot passengers. Several sailings were cancelled while safety checks and repair work were carried out.
In an update issued later in the day, Wightlink apologised for what it called “significant disruption” to services on Tuesday 17 February. The operator confirmed that it had put alternative arrangements in place to help get passengers moving again while work continued at the Gunwharf terminal.
The company said it would operate a special 4pm sailing from Portsmouth International Port on George Byng Way. Passengers booked on the 4.20pm departure from Gunwharf were advised to travel to Portsmouth International Port instead, where their existing bookings would be accepted without any changes. Customers were asked to arrive no more than 30 minutes before departure.
Wightlink confirmed that the 5.20pm sailing from Gunwharf and the 6.20pm sailing from Fishbourne were cancelled. However, the operator said it expects to return to its advertised timetable later in the evening, with the 5.20pm sailing from Fishbourne and the 6.20pm and subsequent services from Gunwharf running as normal.
The ferry company says that all other Wightlink routes are continuing to operate as usual. Full refunds will be issued automatically for all cancelled sailings affected by the disruption.
Wightlink thanked customers for their patience and understanding while teams work to resolve the issue safely and as quickly as possible. Passengers are being advised to check the latest travel updates before travelling, as further information is expected to follow.
More to follow....
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