Wightlink FastCat: Wheelchairs and pushchairs allowed back on board after routine maintenance

Wightlink's FastCat, which runs between Portsmouth Harbour Station Pier and Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight. Picture: Tony Weaver

A gangway needed to be moved in order for the company to undertake an underwater inspection of the berth at Portsmouth Harbour station pier earlier today.

The ferry service tweeted: ‘Due to an underwater inspection at our Por Har FastCat berth, customers using wheelchairs or mobility scooters will be unable to travel on our FastCat service this morning.

‘This will be the 10.15 & 11.15 from Portsmouth Harbour and the 09.47, 10.47 & 11.47 from Ryde Pier.’

All passengers using wheeled transport are now able to board from the berth, according to a spokeswoman from Wightlink.

She said: ‘We are carrying out a lot of routine maintenance work on the pier, which is over 200 years old.

‘We have to move a gangway from one part of the pier to another, which meant a couple of steps were required to board.’

It follows ‘technical issues’ leaving the service inaccessible for pushchairs, scooters, and wheelchairs travelling from the Portsmouth Harbour Station Pier on Sunday, December 29. A normal service resumed on Thursday January 2.

Passengers have been told to monitor the company’s social media for updates, as maintenance work is expected to be ongoing.