Ferries to and from the Isle of Wight are now running a 'skeleton service' throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Wightlink is suspending the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head FastCat foot passenger route from the last sailing on Monday, April 6, until normal services can be restored, because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Wightlink will also be reducing its Portsmouth to Fishbourne car ferry sailings to a two-hourly service on one of its largest ships from 6am on Tuesday, April 7.

The Isle of WIght Council said: "At a meeting of the Isle of Wight Transport Infrastructure Board this morning (Wednesday 1 April), further alterations to cross-Solent ferry services were discussed.

"It is clear that an almost total drop in demand of passenger traffic, coupled with reduced freight volumes means that many services are now under-utilised and not required. All operators are also acutely aware of the need to ensure adequate resilience in staffing levels to ensure that a lifeline service is maintained to the Island.

"As a result of these factors both Red Funnel and Wightlink are making amendments to their timetables:

"Wightlink will be reducing the number of car ferry sailings on its Portsmouth to Fishbourne route and is suspending  its Portsmouth to Ryde Fast Cat service. The revised car ferry schedule ensures that the demand from emergency services, freight operators, and other essential travellers will be met.

"Red Funnel is announcing a reduction in its Red Jet services outside peak travel times.

"Full details of the timetable revisions will be announced by the operators.

"Hovertravel will continue to provide its fast service, which not only carries foot passengers, but is also used by the Royal Mail and brings all the pharmaceuticals to the Island."

The changes are being made because very few people need to cross the Solent.

Wightlink chief executive Keith Greenfield said: “We are sorry to suspend our FastCat route and reduce sailings between Portsmouth and Fishbourne, however we will still be able to transport all essential travellers and supplies to the Isle of Wight using one of our largest ships.”

Under the leadership of Isle of Wight Council during the COVID-19 crisis, all cross-Solent operators are working together to keep the Island connected. Wightlink’s foot passenger tickets will be accepted on Red Funnel and Hovertravel. This includes rail tickets and season tickets.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: “All the ferries are dedicated to keep key workers and vital supplies flowing to the Island. By co-operating we are, together, maintaining robust and resilient links which can sustain the Island through these challenging times.

"We appreciate and sympathise with the difficult decisions Wightlink is making, and we are offering our full support to a fellow ferry operator and our close neighbour in Ryde.”

Essential travellers, including key workers, who have pre-booked with Wightlink (including season card holders) will be able to use Hovertravel services, with no additional fare payable and will also be able to use the HoverBus for onward connections within Portsmouth. In addition, if required due to adverse weather conditions, Hovertravel tickets will be accepted at Wightlink’s Portsmouth‐Fishbourne car ferry.

Neil added: “Ticket acceptance between operators is commonplace amongst rail companies and by deploying such measures here for cross Solent travel, we are demonstrating that all ferry operators are united in their mission to ensure the Isle of Wight remains connected.”

Christopher Garnett, chairman of the Isle of Wight Transport Infrastructure Board, adds: “These measures have the full support of the Board and will ensure essential, effective and robust cross-Solent ferry services can continue at this very difficult time. The Board and operators are working closely together to ensure full resilience for the Island is maintained in all key areas.

“These are lifeline services for the Island, bringing in all our supplies and freight – including food and fuel - and providing key connectivity in areas such as mainland travel for hospital appointments, whether on foot or by ambulance.

“Each of the operators continues to put in enormous efforts to maintain these services in these unprecedented times, including the promotion of ‘essential travel only’.”

Red Funnel Ferries announced it will be making further changes to its Red Jet service, as it works to ensure it continues to offer a lifeline service, particularly for key workers travelling to and from the Isle of Wight.

Red Funnel has been working closely with local NHS services to optimise a hi-speed sailing schedule that coordinates with NHS workers’ shift patterns as much as possible. Following these talks and taking into account greatly reduced customer demand, the new schedule will feature four early morning and five evening sailings. The schedule will operate as follows.

From Southampton:

Morning: 05:45, 06:45, 07:45 08:45

Evening: 16:45, 17:45, 18:45, 19:45, 20:45

From West Cowes:

Morning: 06:15, 07:15, 08:15, 09:15

Evening: 17:15, 18:15, 19:15, 20:15, 21:15

The new schedule will come into effect on Saturday, April 4.

The revised timetable 'mirrors recent customer travel patterns and foot passenger numbers', while ensuring there are hi-speed sailings available that align with the majority of key worker shifts.

Foot passengers will continue to be able to travel on Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry service, which will continue to operate to its advertised schedule throughout the day.

Fran Collins, chief executive of Red Funnel, said: “We have seen a significant decline in foot passengers using our Red Jet service in recent weeks due to the government’s guidance regarding non-essential travel. While we are pleased the public is taking this advice seriously and only travelling if absolutely necessary, it subsequently means we are seeing very reduced passenger numbers on all sailings, particularly on our off-peak services where we have sailings operating with very few or even no customers at all. 

“Given the current government guidance and very low passengers numbers, the revised timetable is more appropriate and the crossing times will still enable the majority of those still travelling with us to continue to use the Red Jet service, especially NHS and key workers. We are also continuing to operate our vehicle ferry services that foot passengers can use.” 

Island MP Bob Seely said: "The ferry companies have now downsized to a skeleton service due to a very significant drop in demand for their services.

"I’ve had questions from some Islanders asking why visitors are still coming to the Island. Apart from a few very isolated cases, they are not.

“We do however need a skeleton ferry service to ensure food and medical supplies can get to the Island.

"We also need to make sure that key workers can come here to support the NHS and other vital services that keep people alive and safe.

"I spoke yesterday to the chief constable of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Olivia Pinkney, to see what can reasonably be done to deter any potential visitors over the Easter period.

"We agreed that in Britain we have a tradition of policing by consent in this country and we need to be mindful of that. However, the chief constable will see what measures can be taken.

"The three ferry firms as well as tourism businesses on the Island are doing their best to ensure we do not have holiday-makers and visitors coming to the Island at this time.

"They are behaving very responsibly and I thank them for that.”