Yesterday morning (Thursday) Wightlink bid farewell to one of their most well-loved and longest-serving ferries.
Having serviced the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route for 32 years, she sailed to and from the Isle of Wight a whopping 104,832 times! We’re told that’s equivalent to 29 times around the world.
What readers may not remember is that St Helen was the car ferry that experienced the dramatic car deck collapse last summer. Apparently still under investigation by the MCA, we’re told by Wightlink the vessel has been sold to an Italian company and will continue in service as a passenger ferry in Italy.
In service since 1983
A spokesperson from Wightlink told us,
“St Helen was the last ship to be built at the Leith shipyard of Henry Robb Shipbuilders and Engineers and was handed over to British Rail Sealink in November 1983. St Catherine was also built at the Scottish yard.
“One month later, on 8 December, during her naming and inauguration ceremony, a group of pupils and staff from St Helen’s Primary School in Ryde were among the first to travel to Portsmouth on board.”
As well as children and staff from St Helen’s Primary school, former crew members were also among passengers on board the final voyage.
