St Faith has been an integral part of the Wightlink fleet since her completion at Selby’s Cochrane yard in 1989.
ISLE OF WIGHT
Everything from crew shortages, vessel breakdowns, extra late evening services and a strike during the peak of the 2022 summer season affected crossings to the Isle of Wight operated by Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.
After little use so far this year, Wightlink returned Wight Sun (2009/2,546gt) to regular operations between Lymington and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, but staff shortages caused cancellation of three afternoon and evening crossings on 7 August. Problems with St Faith (1989/3,009gt) led to her missing two round-trips from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, and all three route vessels ran up to an hour late for the rest of the day. Wightlink then unexpectedly ended the Lymington-Yarmouth summer timetable on 30 August to allow an earlier than usual start to the winter refit programme.