PASSENGERS travelling across the Solent will be allowed to stay in their cars on four sailings from tomorrow, Red Funnel has announced, as measures are introduced because of coronavirus.

The ferry firm says has worked with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to find 'exceptional solutions', as the government urges social distancing in its response to COVID-19.

Many Islanders have called for measures to prevent mixing in passenger lounges but safety legislation requires passengers to leave their vehicles.

From tomorrow (Thursday March 19), Red Funnel says it will operate a number of special “vehicle deck only” crossings, closing its main passenger accommodation areas.

The firm said: "This “all or nothing” solution, requiring all passengers to remain in vehicles, is rooted in ensuring that robust safety, fire control and evacuation procedures can be maintained.

"A number of additional passenger safety and operational controls are also required and instructions will be clearly communicated to passengers prior to boarding.

"Vehicle space will be restricted on these crossings, due to requirements for larger gaps between vehicles as a means of ensuring adequate pathways should there be a need to evacuate."

The firm says it plans to extend the service in the coming days.

From tomorrow, the measures will affect the 19:30 and 22:30 sailings from East Cowes and the 18:00 and 21:00 sailings from Southampton.

Fran Collins, Red Funnel's CEO, said: “We’d like to thank the MCA for working with us to identify solutions to allow our passengers this option.

"Many of our customers have been in touch in recent weeks to request that this option be available and while we empathised with their requests we were legally unable to oblige until now.

"I’m very pleased that we are now able to provide a solution and thank our customers for their patience as we seek to adapt our operation as quickly and efficiently as we can."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Meanwhile, Wightlink says it is dedicating its St Clare ferry to stay-in-your-car crossings. Read more: Wightlink's St Clare becomes 'stay-in-your-vehicle ferry as cross-Solent firms respond to coronavirus.

The Isle of Wight Transport Infrastructure Board has welcomed the ferry firms' announcement.

Chairman, Christopher Garnett, said: “I would like to thank the ferry companies and MP for all their co-ordinated and collective work and progress on these issues on behalf of the travelling public at a very difficult time, including the MP assisting us in our approaches to the government.

"We are also seeking to discuss how services might be co-ordinated in the event of further major disruption.

"In the mean time the board continues to discuss the key issues regularly with the ferry companies and MP, as they develop."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said: "This is important and gives reassurance to everybody, but especially high-risk groups and those travelling to the mainland for medical treatment and whom may have lowered immunity.
"The second [thing that needs to happen] is to relax competition law to allow the ferry firms to talk to each other to enable resilience planning. We are still working on this.|
"I want to reassure Islanders that all of us in positions of responsibility are working together to make the Island’s case and to lessen the impact of this serious situation on the Island and on Islanders."