Coronavirus: Gosport ferry late night service suspended as passenger numbers plummet

THE night ferry service between Gosport and Portsmouth has been suspended, with the owners saying they will struggle to keep their business afloat while they wait for the coronavirus outbreak to pass.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Normal trade on a Friday night would see 300 use the night ferry – but this Friday saw the boat carry only 11 passengers, according to D & P Boat Hire co-owner Dave Faithfull.

He said: ‘It was quite clear that all our trade is people going to pubs and restaurants and clubs.

‘We cannot afford to run it for free.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The night service runs from midnight to 3am each night, and from midnight to 4.30am on Saturdays and Sundays catering for Friday and Saturday nights out.

Dave has run the business with his brother, Paul, for more than 30 years, employing two full-time members of staff.

But now they all face an uncertain future, with the businessman looking into government grants to ensure he can continue to pay his staff’s wages.

Read More
Coronavirus: Southsea armed forces charity All Call Signs fears donation crisis
The Gosport night ferry service, the Faithful Servant. Credit: Dave Faithfull.The Gosport night ferry service, the Faithful Servant. Credit: Dave Faithfull.
The Gosport night ferry service, the Faithful Servant. Credit: Dave Faithfull.

He said: ‘We have just been discussing having the boat taken out of the water and having a refit and other maintenance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘It still costs money just to keep the ferry. We still need to pay mooring fees.’

‘We are going to struggle – we have nothing else to fall back on.

‘Long term I don’t know what we are going to do.’

The ferries used by the Gosport Ferry service. 
Credit: Tony WeaverThe ferries used by the Gosport Ferry service. 
Credit: Tony Weaver
The ferries used by the Gosport Ferry service. Credit: Tony Weaver

But the businessman believes the government is ‘doing all they can’ to tackle the crisis.

He added: ‘It’s unprecedented times.

‘We have been talking to our accountant and even he can’t give us a definitive answer on what we should do.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Gosport Ferry day service has cut its usual two-boat timetable to one boat in use, running a service every 15 minutes since Saturday.

A statement from Gosport Ferry said: ‘The well being of our passengers and crew are our top priority, as is running the best service we can during these very testing times.

It is thus with regret that we have to announce that as from Saturday the service will operate daily on a one-boat service only every 15 minutes, from 5.30am to midnight.

‘As a business that runs on people – our dedicated captains and crews – we are not immune to the government advice placed on our personnel from isolation requirements and illness.'

Related topics: