A message from Wightlink’s Chief Executive

Wightlink’s Chief Executive, Keith Greenfield, has issued a message to key workers, customers and local residents amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The video transcript can be found below:

“Hello

I’d like to start by saying a huge thanks and paying tribute to all the NHS and care workers on the front line on the Isle of Wight and the rest of the country at this time. We’re all incredibly proud and inspired by the work that you’re doing on our behalf and looking after the people in your care; you’re very brave and dedicated, and an inspiration to the rest of us.
So, on behalf of Wightlink, thank you.

There are actually an army of people behind the scenes, keeping the front line going, keeping the front line supplied, delivering to hospitals, keeping the food on the shelves in our supermarkets, taking our waste away and of course taking key workers to and from their places of work. So Wightlink is very proud to be part of that effort, that transport team behind the scenes, so I’d like to thank our crews both on board and in our ports; and actually a large number of people working from home but whose work is also essential to keeping our Portsmouth-Fishbourne route running, so thank you for all the amazing work you’re doing as well.

People will know that we’ve had to suspend two of our routes, following the Government’s restrictions on travel. We’re pleased that people have heeded the Government advice to stay at home, but it does mean that we don’t have the volume of travel to support those two services. We are working with the Isle of Wight Council and the other cross-Solent operators to make sure that the Isle of Wight has an essential level of service. For our part, that means Portsmouth – Fishbourne, using Victoria of Wight which is operating 24-hours a day. Victoria of Wight’s our largest, greenest and most modern car ferry; she has more than enough capacity for all of the transport that’s needed on that particular route at this time and we’re very proud of playing our part in keeping the Island supplied using Victoria of Wight.

People will no doubt be looking forward to a much happier time ahead. I’m looking forward to a time when travel restrictions are lifted, when visitors can start to return to the Island. At Wightlink we are already planning for that and looking forward to that too; we’ll be ready with all of our ships to resume service just as soon as we are able to and in the meantime I look forward to welcoming you on board when the time comes, which I hope will be not too far away.

Thank you.”

Keith Greenfield, Chief Executive

Wightlink