Wightlink

Wightlink is one of the UK's largest domestic ferry operators, with a history dating back to 1796, when the first ferries crossed the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The company was formed in 1990, when Stena Line bought Sealink and the Isle of Wight ferries remained with Sea Containers.

Wightlink operates ferry connections across the Solent between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Car ferries run between Lymington and Yarmouth, and between Portsmouth and Fishbourne. A fast passenger catamaran connects Portsmouth Harbour with Ryde Pier. The Portsmouth-Fishbourne crossing takes 45 minutes.

The fleet comprises six car ferries and two FastCat catamarans, operating 364 days a year. The Victoria of Wight, built in 2018 for £30 million at the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, is the largest ship in the fleet and runs on hybrid power. The St Clare is the second-largest ferry, with two-deck loading. The Wight Light, Wight Sun and Wight Sky, which entered service in 2009, operate on the Lymington-Yarmouth route.

In 1995, Wightlink became independent through a management buyout, before being bought by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund in 2005. Today the company is owned by Basalt Infrastructure Partners and Fiera Infrastructure. Wightlink invested £17.5 million in modernising the Portsmouth-Fishbourne route. On board there are cafés and lounges. Vehicles can be brought on the car ferries.