Tag: isle-of-wight

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You can now add Tasmania to New Zealand, Greece, Isle of Wight, Washington State, British Columbia, Lake Ontario, Alaska, Channel Islands, Scilly Islands and Malta ferries for less-safe, less-reliable, less-frequent and more costly systems than we enjoy in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson, International Ferry Correspondent From ABC News Australia, today: Spirit of Tasmania ferry and port saga escalates with claims of safety risks, ‘appalling’ support and strained relationships. The former chair of Spirit of Tasmania operator, TT-Line, has appeared at a parliamentary inquiry and slammed the Tasmanian government for its “appalling” level of support during the bungled rollout of two new vessels. Michael Grainger also described a “challenging” relationship with the state-owned operator of Tasmania’s ports infrastructure over delayed facility upgrades, safety issues with the government’s interim solution, and that he had kept minister Michael Ferguson informed at … Continue reading You can now add Tasmania to New Zealand, Greece, Isle of Wight, Washington State, British Columbia, Lake Ontario, Alaska, Channel Islands, Scilly Islands and Malta ferries for less-safe, less-reliable, less-frequent and more costly systems than we enjoy in Scotland

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UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

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From Island Echo, yesterday: Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson says that Islanders should be ‘deeply concerned’ that no mention was given to ferries in a keynote speech by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh this week. At the Labour Party Conference on Monday, Louise talked about ‘ripping up the roots of Thatcherism’ across UK transport but made no reference at all to ferries. The Secretary of State for Transport spoke extensively about trains and buses and mentioned flying, cycling and walking. But the lack of any mention of ferries – including cross-Solent ferries – has raised questions as to whether … Continue reading UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

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English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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In the Daily Mail today: Furious Isle of Wight locals have accused ferry companies of holding them to ransom and say they can’t wait to move after being charged £440 for a return ticket to the mainland.  Islanders say they cannot afford to cross the Channel due to soaring costs and unreliable services. ‘Ridiculous’ ferry prices, cancellations, and delays are blighting their lives with some now wishing they had never moved to the island who say it is making them feel ‘completely cut off from society’.   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13722747/I-wish-never-moved-Furious-Isle-Wight-locals-held-ransom-ferry-companies-say-wait-charged-440-return-ticket-mainland.html The longest Isle of Wight crossing is 10 miles. Ardrossan to Arran is 17.3 … Continue reading English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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Massively over-priced, more than THREE times the CalMac equivalent, and unreliable, Isle of Wight ferries strangle local economy

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From the Island Echo, yesterday: Last week we reported on how visitor numbers at some of the Island’s top attractions have failed to bounce back after the COVID pandemic, with the likes of Osborne House seeing a 23% fall in visitor numbers between 2019 and 2023. As I wrote the story I couldn’t help but feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg, with more commercial entities keeping their cards very close to their chests. It seems every time we are hit with another attraction or hotel closing (we’ve just lost Jack Up), or increased costs to day-to-day living, Island Echo readers … Continue reading Massively over-priced, more than THREE times the CalMac equivalent, and unreliable, Isle of Wight ferries strangle local economy

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BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight -‘Unreliable ferry services causing huge stress’

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By Professor John Robertson From BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight today: A ferry operator has cancelled several high-speed services across the Solent due to staff shortages. Red Funnel confirmed its Red Jet service between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight would not be running due to “limited availability of crew”. It is the latest in a series of cancellations, with the most recent happening in March due to an “unexpected technical issue”. Passengers told the BBC in February that the unreliable ferry services were causing “huge stress”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-68795557 No staff? Unexpected technical issues? No service? Now that’s a ferry fiasco, friends. It’s hard … Continue reading BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight -‘Unreliable ferry services causing huge stress’

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Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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From On the Wight, today: Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has this week released an in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services. My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The … Continue reading Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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Isle of Wight ferry fiasco putting people’s health and well-being at risk says councillor but government not to blame

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This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From Alliance Party Councillor, Karl Love, in the Isle of Wight Country Press today: The situation with Red Funnel, Cross Solent transportation operators, and its cancellations and service disruptions to the Isle of Wight, after many months of negative service impacts, is intolerable and could be putting people’s health and well-being at risk from life threatening illness after residents are missing appointments and treatments, because of cancelled services. Red Funnel service cancellations are worsening and our whole Island economy, our invest-ability and potential tourist offer is being diminished.  … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry fiasco putting people’s health and well-being at risk says councillor but government not to blame

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Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

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This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight today: Passengers were left stranded after a ferry company cancelled its late-night crossings. Wightlink, which runs services between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, suspended car ferries on Saturday night, blaming “technical issues” in an email to customers. In a message on X, posted 25 minutes after the 22:00 crossing had been due to depart, Wightlink said there would be an additional FastCat sailing for foot passengers at 00:15 on Sunday. One passenger told the BBC he had to leave … Continue reading Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

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Isle of Wight ferry company has no plans to replace Catamaran which is running on only 3 out of 4 engines

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From BBC Hampshire and Isle of Wight yesterday: Unreliable cross-Solent ferry services are causing “huge stress”, passengers have said. Both the Red Jet passenger vessels and car ferries operated by Red Funnel have suffered cancellations and delays in recent months. Islanders have complained about disrupted commutes and journeys to hospital appointments. High-speed passenger ferry RedJet 6 is only running on three of its four engines. The company said supply chain issues had led to problems obtaining spare parts to mend its fourth engine. On 13 February it suffered an interceptor seal failure and the following day tidal conditions meant it … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry company has no plans to replace Catamaran which is running on only 3 out of 4 engines

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Isle of Wight ferries charged several times the CalMac rate and got a Covid rescue grant yet made £16m profit and paid shareholders £10m

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In Island Echo today: Wightlink made a profit of £16million in the financial year to March 2023, according to the company’s latest financial figures. The cross-Solent operator published its accounts – which are available on Companies House – on 8th January, covering the period from April 2022 to March 2023. The highest-paid director – who is unnamed – took home £398,000, with a further £285,000 paid out to other directors. A dividend of £10million was proposed to be paid in June last year, despite Wightlink taking a COVID rescue grant from the Government. No CalMac or previously Caledonian MacBrayne ferry … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferries charged several times the CalMac rate and got a Covid rescue grant yet made £16m profit and paid shareholders £10m