Portsmouth - Ryde Investment
Wightlink is in the process of a major investment programme to improve the service offered on its Portsmouth - Ryde route. Our new craft entered service on the 29th September 2009.
Watch the Wight Ryders Naming & Dedication Ceremony video
£9 million has been allocated to upgrade both the fleet and the terminals at Ryde and Portsmouth Harbour.
A robust new generation of catamarans will be introduced in 2009, purpose-built to better cope with the punishing weather conditions experienced on the route.
The new ships have been constructed in the Philippines. State of the art, with attractive on board facilities, they will provide passengers travelling between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde with much improved reliability and comfort.
Wightlink intends to make improvements at Ryde Pier, but stresses that this part of the plan is at a very early stage. Talks with concerned parties will form part of the planning process.
As part of the improvements, new retail facilities will be provided to match those already in place at Portsmouth Harbour.
Berthing arrangements will also be upgraded at Portsmouth harbour and Ryde Pier.
Extra car parking will be added to ease the flow of traffic on and off the pier – currently a concern to many users.
| Principal Particulars | |
| Length Overall | 40.00m |
| Length Waterline | 38.60m |
| Beam overall | 12.00m |
| Draft | 1.60m |
| Speed | 20 Knots* |
| Passengers | 260 |
| Bicycles | 20 |
| Flag | UK - HSC 2000 Cat A |
*at 85% MCR
Progress:
12th July 2009
The new craft are lifted into the water at Portsmouth Continental Ferryport. Photos courtesy of Simon Talling.
An excited crowd gathered at Portsmouth's harbour entrance to witness the arrival of Wight Ryder I & II onboard the cargo ship BBC Georgia. Once craned into the water an extensive period of trials and crew training will begin in preparation for the new crafts' entry into service later in 2009.
Wight Ryder I & II loaded on to the cargo ship for their journey home.
First of Wightlink’s new passenger catamarans is launched in the Philippines
The first of Wightlink’s new fleet of catamarans for its Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde passenger service has been launched on schedule at the Cebu shipyard in the Philippines. Wight Ryder 1 was launched in a ceremony at the FBMA shipyard on Monday 30th March, watched by Mark Parsons, Wightlink Ship Manager, who travelled out to the Philippines for the occasion.
Wight Ryder 1, named in a Wightlink staff competition by Mike Bristow, who works for the ferry operator at Ryde Pier, is one of two new generation catamarans that form part of the multi-million pound investment by Wightlink across all of its cross-Solent routes.
Construction of the second vessel – Wight Ryder II - is also well advanced and both catamarans are expected to leave the Philippines in June so that they will be ready to enter service on the Solent by early autumn. In preparation for this, berthing works have started at both Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier.
Wightlink Chief Executive Andrew Willson welcomed the news that Wight Ryder I had been successfully launched at Cebu and said: “Wightlink is delighted that construction of the new catamarans is progressing to schedule. This means that soon we will be able to phase out our existing FastCat fleet and replace them with this robust new generation of single-decked catamarans, which have been purpose-built for the service in order to deliver reliability and a high-class customer experience.”
Designed by Southampton-based BMT Nigel Gee, one of the world’s largest marine specialists, the new catamarans will provide greater stability during travel and improved berthing capabilities, a crucial benefit for Wightlink. “Reliability is our overriding objective and, with these advantages, the new craft should enable Wightlink to reduce the instances of weather-related cancellations that affect the existing service,” said Andrew Willson.
The design of the new ships with advanced electronic management systems is expected to result in fuel savings of around 1.3 million litres per annum compared to the existing FastCats, making them more environmentally friendly with a reduction in emissions equivalent to over 3.4 million kg CO2.
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30 March 2009 - Wight Ryder I
November 2008 - the superstructure under construction.
YN-1026: Hull Completion expected mid-October 2008
YN-1027: Construction concentrated on the mid section of the Hull. Target Turnover and joined up for end September 2008.
