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No Return Date For Wightlink's FastCat As £5m Refit Programme Nears End

Wightlink says it will reintroduce sailings "when the time is right" as its £5 million refit programme nears its end.

There is still no return date for the FastCat, despite the Government announcing its roadmap to easing restrictions.

The foot passenger service has been out of action since December.

But Wightlink says its fleet is ready for when the time comes. 

Its eight ships and catamarans have undergone their annual maintenance and refits.

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield said:

“It has been a challenging year with many of our vessels laid-up and far fewer customers than usual on board our services.

“We are ready for summer 2021 and hope the Government will be able to relax restrictions according to the roadmap so things can start to get back to normal. 

“We have been working with the Isle of Wight Council, VisitWight and our fellow cross-Solent operators to provide a lifeline service during the pandemic and will be reintroducing sailings when the time is right, in line with increasing demand.” 

It is the second dry-docking for Wightlink’s flagship Victoria of Wight, which joined the fleet in 2018. 

The last ship to be dry-docked is Wight Sun at the A&P Shipyard in Falmouth which will return to her home port of Lymington on March 30. 

Tasks have included overhauling engines, hydraulics and air conditioning, painting and deep cleaning. All the work has been carried out in Covid-secure conditions in shipyards in Cornwall, Dorset and Portsmouth. 

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