What Wightlink's new £45m flagship will look like

The ferry, which will link Portsmouth and Fishbourne, is under construction and is expected to begin operating in summer 2018.

The £45m vessel will be able to carry more than 1,000 passengers and 178 cars.

It will be slightly larger than the company’s current flagship St Clare.

Wightlink has released this computer-generated image to 
show what the finished ferry will look like.

Speaking about the project, Wightlink chief executive Keith Greenfield said: ‘Our investment will improve reliability and punctuality on the route and help us reduce congestion in Portsmouth city centre.’

Alongside the new ferry, work is progressing on port improvements at both Portsmouth and Fishbourne.

A Wightlink spokeswoman said that contractor Trant is sinking 256 piles at the Gunwharf car ferry terminal in preparation for the installation of a two-tier boarding ramp early next year.

The company will use the quietest method of piling and is not working at night.

A revised timetable is in place until the end of tomorrow while the work is carried out.

During this time regular sailings from the Gunwharf car ferry terminal will instead sail from Portsmouth International Port.

Only booked vehicles will be accepted from the port and foot passengers will only be carried on catamarans from the Portsmouth Harbour-Ryde route.

Wightlink operations director Elwyn Dop said: ‘Our investment will enable us to carry more customers at times they want to travel in greater comfort.’