Wightlink looks back at a busy 2023

It’s been another busy year on the Solent for Wightlink.

The company’s fleet of six vehicle ferries and two foot passenger catamarans has transported more than 3.8million people between the Isle of Wight and the mainland ports of Portsmouth and Lymington in all weathers.

Starting with a seasonal statistic, Wightlink shipped 2,700 Christmas trees to the Isle of Wight in the last few weeks of the year.

Moving to refreshments, Wightlink is proud to buy supplies from the best Isle of Wight companies:

• 163,598 litres of milk from Briddlesford Farm dairy were used in teas and coffees.
• Tasty treats from Grace’s Bakery in Ryde were popular. That’s 184,280 sandwiches and wraps, 88,725 toasties, 34,038 sausage rolls, 57,541 cakes and pastries, and 174,512 slices of toast.
• Thirsty customers downed 631,214 cups of coffee (8837kg of the mocha espresso blend) from Isle of Wight Espresso Company (Island Roasted).
• 219,204 bottles of refreshing Wight Crystal Water were sold (every purchase supports the Way Forward programme empowering Islanders with disabilities).

There’s never a dull day on the Solent:

• Cars, vans, lorries and other vehicles measuring a total of 7,044,830 metres were shipped during 2023. If parked bumper-to-bumper, they would reach further than the Arctic Circle in Lapland and back again.
• 146 abnormal loads were transported, ranging from caravans and mobile homes to steam locomotives.
• 894 horses travelled in horseboxes.
• 19.5 million letters, parcels and postcards were carried by the Royal Mail.