Reviews & Ratings for the St-Clare

**Title: Safety Concerns Arise as Passengers Reposition Vehicles on Moving Ferry: Wightlink Under Investigation** The Isle of Wight ferry operator Wightlink finds itself in the midst of an investigation following a concerning incident involving the 'St. Clare'. On March 8, during its final voyage from Fishbourne to the Gunwharf terminal in Portsmouth, passengers were instructed to 'reposition' their vehicles while the vessel was still in transit. Wightlink has acknowledged that a crew member asked some passengers to adjust their car positions before the ferry had fully docked. This request aimed to expedite the disembarkation process; however, it raised significant safety questions. According to regulations set forth by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), passengers are required to vacate their vehicles once the ferry departs and must remain in designated passenger areas. The guidelines explicitly restrict access to the vehicle deck until the vessel is entirely secured alongside the berth. These protocols are crucial for ensuring passenger safety during the ferry's operations, particularly in light of a previous near-collision incident involving the 'St. Clare' and the Gunwharf terminal on February 17. Such incidents can pose serious threats to individuals on the vehicle deck, leaving them susceptible to injuries during unexpected maneuvers. Wightlink's own policy mandates that passengers must disembark from vehicle decks prior to the ferry's departure and may only return if specifically directed by the crew. In light of this incident, the crew generated an internal report, and Wightlink initiated a comprehensive investigation, led by the head of fleet operations. The company reviewed CCTV footage and gathered testimonies from both passengers and crew members, leading them to voluntarily notify the MCA of the incident. As part of its commitment to safety, Wightlink also issued an advisory bulletin across its fleet, reminding staff that vehicles must remain stationary until the ferry has safely docked. The MCA is currently conducting its investigation into the matter.

The 'St. Clare' allided with the Gunwharf terminal in Portsmouth, UK, during a berthing manoevre on the morning of Feb 17. 2026, at 08:00 a.m. GMT. The ferry, coming in stern first, hit the wooden fenders, smashed the ramp, and the timber fender fell into the water. There was damage both to the ship's prow andthe port infrastructure. The wooden berth was covered in scrapes with one of the timbers apparently missing. The passengers disembarked the top deck because they had another ramp, and then the damaged ramp had to be supported. The ferry reversed and turned around. The vehicles had to reverse off the ferry too as a consquence. Several services on the Gunwharf–Fishbourne route have been cancelled on the afternoon until at least 3:20 p.m. from Gunwharf and 4:20 p.m. from Fishbourne while the situation was assessed. No alternative sailings were offered on the route, while teams were trying to find solutions that minimised disruption for customers. All other routes were operating as normal. After carrying out overnight repairs, the 'St. Clare' could return to its normal services again on Feb 18.

The 'St. Clare' remained sidelined in Portsmouth because of the ongoing technical problem as of Feb 21. Both of the ferry's engines have developed faults which were believed to be linked.. The operator Wightlink had to cancel all of the scheduled sailings on Feb 21 and have informed customers. The "St Faith' was operating a shuttle service and was fully booked. Travel plans for customers were disrupted, and they were asked to cancel or amend bookings online, full refunds were given free-of-charge. Engineers were working to fix the problem. Extra sailings were run between Lymington and Yarmouth overnight. Customers who had booked on the 'St Clare' and had their sailing cancelled can travel on the FastCat free-of-charge.

Isle of Wight ferry provider Wightlink was running with two-hour delays on its Fishbourne to Portsmouth route on the afternoon of Feb 20, 2025, and passengers were facing significant delays due to a mechanical fault aboard the 'St. Clare', which was sidelined in Portsmouth for repairs. As a result, the 'St Faith', the oldest ferry in the fleet, was operating the route alone. The 2 p.m. sailing from Portsmouth has been cancelled, and affected passengers were contacted directly by Wightlink to make alternative arrangements. Wightlink’s ferry 'Victoria of Wight', which has recently completed its maintenance at the Isle of Portland dock, is currently not in service.

The St.Clare' suffered a technical issue and had to cancel a number of sailings on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route from Sep 6-8, 2023. The 8 p.m. sailing from Portsmouth Gunwharf and the 9 p.m. return from Fishbourne have been pulled.