Wightlink's St Clare becomes 'stay-in-your-vehicle ferry as cross-Solent firms respond to coronavirus

The cross-Solent ferry firm says it has reached an agreement with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which usually requires all passengers to leave their vehicles.

From tomorrow (Thursday March 19), all drivers and passengers sailing on the St Clare, between Fishbourne and Portsmouth, will remain in their vehicles during the crossing.

That means all crossings on the even hour from Portsmouth (06:00, 08:00 etc) and the odd hour from Fishbourne (07:00, 09:00 etc) are affected.

No foot passengers will be allowed on board, passenger lounges will be closed and shops and cafés will not be open.

There will also be no access to onboard toilets from the vehicle deck.

All other services will operate as normal.

The Lymington/Yarmouth route and all other Fishbourne/Portsmouth ferries are unaffected.

'Active working to find solution'

Wightlink said: "We are doing our best to protect customers, while they travel with us and our colleagues onboard our ships and at our ports.

"Although our passenger lounges are generally large and spacious, with room for everyone who wants to travel, some customers have asked if they can remain in their vehicles during their crossings.

"This is not usually allowed because of MCA safety regulations.

"Wightlink has been working actively with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to find a solution.

If you are booked on a vehicle-only sailing and want to change to a normal crossing, the operator says bookings can be amended online for free.

Meanwhile, Red Funnel has introduced four stay-in-your-vehicle crossings each day.

Read more: 'Exceptional' measures: Four Red Funnel crossings for passengers who want to stay in vehicles after MCA decision

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 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."