Wightlink’s new flagship Victoria of Wight is now on the water
Our new flagship Victoria of Wight has been successfully launched. She went down the slipway on Wednesday 8 February 2018 at the Cemre shipbuilders in Yalova, Turkey, to cheers from Wightlink staff and hundreds of shipyard workers.
Project Director John Burrows says: “The launch marked a significant milestone for Wightlink in our £45million investment in future services. Our new environmentally friendly ferry, powered by hybrid energy, is now afloat and we look forward to welcoming her to the Solent this summer.”
Workers at Cemre started construction on Victoria of Wight in November 2016. After the completion of fitting-out work, the ship will son travel to home waters. Victoria of Wight will be seen around the Solent this summer as crew are trained to operate her before she enters service.
What’s happening at Fishbourne?
A new easy-to-use double deck loading ramp now means cars, lorries and other vehicles can be loaded and unloaded on our current flagship St Clare quickly and quietly. It will also be used for our new ship Victoria of Wight in summer 2018. We are also installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software to improve efficiency at the port.
What’s happening at Portsmouth Gunwharf?
A second tier of boarding lanes now allows easy-to-use double deck loading on both St Clare and our new ship Victoria of Wight – watch a time lapse of construction below. This means cars, lorries and other vehicles can be loaded and unloaded more quickly and quietly. This new boarding system is already reducing congestion in Portsmouth at busy times. We are also preparing to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software to speed up our operations still further.
Project Update
Winter 2017/18
Our new customer building, containing the ticket office, toilet facilities and a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, is now open and can be found right in front of the lanes on the ground floor of our marshalling area at our Portsmouth terminal.
You can wait for your sailing in comfort on the ground floor and we’ll tell you when you’ll need to return to your vehicle to board your ferry. If you’re dropping off or picking up a passenger, you can use our new lane on the left hand side of the terminal – and stay under cover at all times.
February 2018
Victoria of Wight is launched.
Spring 2018
Wightlink’s Camber Café is now open for business – stylish new refreshment facilities have opened at Wightlink’s Portsmouth car ferry terminal.
The Camber Café can be found on the top floor of our new customer building that links both boarding ramps at the port. It has an outside terrace area with one of the best views in the city – you can look out over Portsmouth Harbour, the busy fishing port and Sir Ben Ainslie’s LandRover BAR headquarters.
Customers can enjoy the best Isle of Wight produce including Island Roasted coffee, Wight Crystal water and soft drinks, cakes from Calbourne Classics, ice cream, and much more. Everything on sale is produced on the Isle of Wight or supplied by Island companies.
The Camber Café is licensed to sell Island ales and spirits as well as wine and is open from 09:00-19:00 Saturday-Thursday and 09:00-21:00 on Fridays.

Summer 2018
Our new ferry will arrive in home waters. Eleven crews will be trained to operate her and make the most of her innovative hybrid energy systems. They will mean less noise and fewer emissions as she enters and leaves Portsmouth and Fishbourne. Events will be arranged to introduce Victoria of Wight to our customers on the Isle of Wight and the mainland.
When everything is ready, she will enter service, heralding a new era in cross-Solent travel.