Victoria of Wight undergoes sea trials

Isle of Wight-based Wightlink’s new environmentally friendly Ro-Pax ferry has been undergoing harbour and sea trials.

Launched on February 8 at Cemre Shipyard in Yalove, Turkey, the 88.9-metre by 19.4-metre ferry, Victoria of Wight, caters for 1,208 people and 178 cars.

Together with a new terminal at Portsmouth Gunwharf and two-tier boarding ramps at Gunwharf and Fishbourne, Wightlink has invested £45 million (US$62.8 million) over the past four years.

The hybrid battery ferry is undergoing fitout work before returning to home waters.

Other features include recycling energy from the lifts and using surplus heat from the engines to warm passenger areas.

She is named after Queen Victoria, who enjoyed visiting the isle of Wight.


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