We’re carrying out important work at our Yarmouth vehicle ferry port and want to let you know about a temporary change to how you’ll board and disembark the ferry.

From Monday 3 to Wednesday 12 November, all passengers, whether travelling by vehicle or on foot, will use a temporary barge located on the slipway next to our usual linkspan. This is to allow our engineering team the space and safety they need to replace the linkspan wires. This work is a regulatory requirement and must be completed to ensure the berth remains safe and fully operational.

We’ve chosen this time of year to take advantage of favourable tidal conditions and to reduce the risk of disruption from winter weather. The timing has also been carefully chosen to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.

Temporary Timetable

During this period, we’ll be operating a revised timetable. There will be times when we are unable to berth the ferry at Yarmouth, specifically when the tide is one metre or lower. Around one hour either side of low tide, boarding and disembarking will be paused, as the ramp to the barge becomes too steep to use safely.

We recommend checking the updated timetable before you travel to avoid any inconvenience. Visit www.wightlink.co.uk/updates

Training Days

Our colleagues will be required to complete full training on how to use the temporary barge for loading and unloading ships at Yarmouth. This training will take place before the works begin and will include a couple of days of practical sessions prior to the barge being put into full operational use.

As part of this process, you may notice another ship berthing at the temporary barge next to the usual linkspan at Yarmouth port. Please note that this ship will not carry vehicles or foot passengers—it will be used exclusively for training purposes.