Cancellations due to absence of an essential member of our crew.

We understand that cancellations caused by the absence of a crew member are frustrating and disrupt our customers’ travel plans. Please be assured: we only cancel sailings as an absolute last resort—after every possible option to find cover has been explored. If there is any chance of securing a qualified replacement, we will delay the sailing and wait for that cover to arrive rather than cancel.

How Often Do Cancellations Occur?

Cancellations due to crew shortages are rare. Wightlink operates 140 sailings per day, carrying 4.2 million passengers annually, and cancels less than 1% of sailings for any reason (mechanical or crew-related).
When disruption does occur, we work hard to arrange a replacement sailing as close to the original as possible because we know our timetable is our promise to customers.

What is an essential crew member?

Those roles that are high skilled who we cannot operate a sailing without. It includes Captains, Chief Officers, Engineers and Senior Deck Officers.

Why is it difficult to find cover for essential members of staff?

The greater the skill and knowledge required for a role, the smaller the pool of qualified colleagues available to step in. For example, a Captain requires extensive training, certification, and route-specific knowledge, meaning only a limited number of individuals can safely perform this role.

This applies to all critical roles, such as Captains, Chief Engineers, and senior deck officers, because:

• These positions require extensive training, certification, and route-specific knowledge.
• For example, a Captain must hold advanced qualifications, complete months of familiarisation, and pass harbour master exams for both Portsmouth and Southampton before being allowed to sail.
• Similarly, engineers and other technical crew must have vessel-specific safety training and emergency response competence.

 

Because of these requirements, only a limited number of individuals can safely perform these roles. This is why finding cover at short notice can be extremely challenging—but we will always try every possible option before cancelling.

Why can’t we always find cover quickly?

When a crew member reports absence, we do everything possible to find a qualified replacement. However, replacements must meet strict requirements for certification, familiarisation, and health standards.
Our Resource Planning Team work hard to ensure additional personnel are available to cover last-minute absences.

Safety is paramount

Safety is our number one priority. We will never compromise by sailing without the correct level of crewing to safeguard passengers.

• All Wightlink crew hold the highest level of STCW certification and undergo continuous professional development, exceeding legislative requirements.
• Crew are trained to handle any emergency scenario, ensuring the highest standards of safety.
• Every crew member undergoes regular health assessments by a doctor registered with the coastguard. Conditions manageable on land can severely impact a seafarer’s ability to perform emergency duties, so strict medical standards apply.

How we manage crew

• Rosters are built around timetables to ensure full staffing, with reserve colleagues allocated to cover absences and others scheduled for rest or leave.
• Strict working time directives prevent fatigue and ensure compliance with safety legislation.
• Annual leave is regulated to maintain operational resilience.
• We invest in staff welfare, offering 24-hour Occupational Health support and annual flu vaccinations.

Training and familiarisation

• Crew undergo extensive familiarisation for each vessel and route, which can take over six months depending on rank.
• Familiarisation includes ship-specific safety training, emergency drills, and local navigational knowledge.
• Officers on Portsmouth routes must pass exams with both Portsmouth and Southampton harbour masters, requiring months of study and practical experience.
• This means crew cannot be moved between routes at short notice without compromising safety.

Recruitment and staffing levels

• Wightlink maintains staffing levels above operational requirements to provide cover for absences. Many absences do not result in disruption.
• We balance having spare capability with avoiding excessive overstaffing, which would create inefficiencies.
• Management team members maintain competency in certain roles to step in during emergencies.
• We run regular recruitment campaigns and monitor staffing needs continuously.