Isle of Wight haulier is Wightlink’s first customer at its new Portsmouth terminal building

Isle of Wight haulier Wayne Lightbown was the first driver to buy a ticket at Wightlink’s new customer building at its Portsmouth car ferry terminal. Wayne’s father Mike started the company at Blackwater 40 years ago – it now operates from bases in Merstone and at Eastleigh in Hampshire.

Wightlink’s three storey customer centre features Costa Coffee and other refreshments sourced from the Isle of Wight along with a ticket office and toilets. It is part of Wightlink’s £45million investment in the Portsmouth-Fishbourne route. A new hybrid energy ship is also under construction as part of the project and will come into service later in the year.

“I was delighted to be the first to buy a latté from Costa at your new building and wish you every success with your investment,” says Wayne. “My father started off using Wightlink to carry livestock on and off the Island. We now ship sweetcorn and asparagus to the mainland, and have been known to cross the Solent 48 times a week in busy times.”

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says more milestones lie ahead: “Our new customer building is the latest milestone in our investment in our key cross-Solent route. This summer we will welcome our new hybrid energy flagship Victoria of Wight which will be the most environmentally friendly on the Solent.”

Picture caption: Haulier Wayne Lightbown enjoys his coffee at Wightlink’s new Portsmouth customer building

For more information, contact Karen Woods on 07775 694266 or [email protected].