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Wightlink - Ferry crossing information for Wightlink Ferries
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Wightlink,
with its predecessors, has been operating ferry
services for over 160 years! From as early as 1796,
ferries have been operating across the Solent, linking
the Isle of Wight to the mainland. In the early
nineteenth century, the poor road systems encouraged
people to travel by sea between Lymington, a beautiful
port in the New Forest area, and Portsmouth. Originally,
steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington,
Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde and Portsmouth, the rail companies
themselves became involved in the operation of the
ferries, with individual routes appearing between
Lymington and Yarmouth and Portsmouth and Ryde.
Ownership of the ferries
eventually passed from the British Railways Board
to Sealink UK Limited. In 1984, when Sealink UK
Limited was de-nationalised, the operating name
became Sealink British Ferries and was subsequently
bought by the Bermudan based 'Sea Containers limited'.
In 1990 Stena Line bought Sealink British Ferries,
but the Isle of Wight Ferries remained with Sea
Containers, who then renamed the company 'Wightlink'.
June 1995 saw an exciting development in the company's
history, when as the subject of a management buy-in
it became a private and independent company for
the first time in history.
The company has progressed
from its early pioneering days of steam travel to
operate a modern fleet of eight car and passenger
ferries between Lymington & Yarmouth and Portsmouth
& Fishbourne (historically, the youngest of the
routes) and four high-speed catamarans, between
Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier. |
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