Name MV St Faith Port of registry London Status In service Length 77 m Beam 17 m | Operator Wightlink In service 1990 Launched 28 February 1990 Draft 2.48 m Builder Selby | |
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Identification IMO number 8907228
Call sign MMDA5 | ||
mv st faith wightlink ferry leaving portsmouth harbour
MV St Faith is a vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Wightlink on their route from Portsmouth to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. As with fellow Wightlink ship St Cecilia, there are also plans to increase St Faith′s capacity by increasing her size to 12 metres.
Contents
- mv st faith wightlink ferry leaving portsmouth harbour
- Going aboard onto mv st faith wightlink ferry
- Hitting hard
- Breakdown in the middle of the Solent
- Mid Solent Fire
- References
The ship was built in 1990 for the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route, the route she has taken throughout her life. St Faith is the second youngest of Wightlink's 'St Class' ships, after St Clare. The name is taken from St Faith's church, Cowes.
Going aboard onto mv st faith wightlink ferry
Hitting hard
On 28 May 2010, it was reported that on arrival at Portsmouth, the MV St Faith landed heavily with the dock injuring two passengers and causing minor damage. Following the accident the vessel was temporarily withdrawn from service and paramedics called as a precaution.
Breakdown in the middle of the Solent
On 28 February 2015 the St Faith suffered an engine failure in the middle of the Solent around 20 minutes into the 8am crossing to the Isle of Wight. The captain decided to return to the Portsmouth terminal via a tug, SD Bountiful, which towed the ageing 25-year-old ferry back to the Gunwharf Quays terminal.The crew switched to St Helen (since retired) to continue the service. She returned to service on 13 March 2015.
Mid-Solent Fire
On 19th January 2017 a fire broke out in an air conditioning unit on the port side of St Faith's bridge whilst mid-Solent. The blaze was swiftly dealt with by the crew. 65 people were on board the ferry at the time of the incident but there were no casualties.
2 fire appliances from Ryde Fire Station were sent to the scene at Wightlink's Fishbourne ferry terminal alongside the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service's Incident Support Unit from East Cowes. Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and Police also attended the incident.