ROPE AROUND PROP FORCES SUSPENSION OF FASTCAT SERVICE

Wightlink has been forced to suspend its Fastcat service to and from the Isle of Wight due to a rope being caught around the prop of one of its vessels.

The 15:15, 16:15, 17:15 and 18:15 sailings from Portsmouth Harbour have all been cancelled this afternoon (Saturday), alongside the 15:45, 16:45 and 17:45 from Ryde Pier Head – with the 18:45 also expected not to run.

The service is in effect suspended due to the cross-Solent operator only having a single Fastcat available for operations due to annual refit.

Island Echo understands a rope has got caught around the propeller of the Fastcat in service, with divers called in to clear the fouled prop.

Customers are being directed to catch the car ferry between Fishbourne and Portsmouth Gunwharf instead. The 18:00 sailings to Fishbourne has departed 10 minutes late to accommodate the influx of foot passengers.

Hovertravel’s services have been suspended for most of the day and are to remain suspended until tomorrow morning (Sunday), it has been confirmed.

Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry is operating with cancellations due to a technical issue, but the hi-speed Red Jet service continues as normal.

UPDATE @ 19:20 – Wightlink has now cancelled the 19:20 sailing from Portsmouth Harbour and the 19:47 from Ryde Pier Head.

UPDATE @ 19:52 – The cancellations continue tonight with the 20:20 sailing from Portsmouth Harbour and the 20:52 from Ryde Pier Head now also cancelled, meaning the service is to remain suspended until at least 21:00.

Sara Howden, Head of Customer Experience says:

“We apologise for causing inconvenience to customers who have had their travel plans disrupted today because of Storm Bert.”

It’s said that Wightlink’s car ferries have run normally all day except for the 12:00 sailing from Portsmouth and 13:00 sailing from Fishbourne, which were cancelled because of high winds.

UPDATE SUNDAY – Fastcat services have resumed this morning.