Coronavirus: Hayling Island ferry service suspended due to social distancing as demand dries up

Staff on-board would expect to carry 150 passengers on a Saturday at this time of year – but this Saturday saw just 23 people use The Pride of Hayling, according to skipper Colin Hill.

He said: ‘As from the end of today, we will finish the normal time table and then suspend the service.

‘Obviously there’s various reasons. We are finding it difficult to maintain social distancing on the ferry.

‘At the weekend we didn’t have any more than three on at a time. If we had six, there wouldn’t have been enough space for social distancing.’

A total of five other staff members keep the ferry in service, with many needing to self-isolate, according to 57-year-old Colin, who will also need to remain at home due to his wife’s medical condition.

He added: ‘One of the workers is 76, and he’s locked himself away at the moment.’

But the skipper said it was important to remain stock in the face of adversity.

He said: ‘It’s one of those things. We just have to grin and bear it.

‘We’re all in the same boat – it’s not just us, it’s the whole world.

‘You cannot do anything about it.

All crew members are self employed, according to Colin – with many concerned about how they will survive the disruption caused by the virus.

He said: ‘We’re all waiting to find out more information about how the government will help self-employed people.

‘It feels like the government is all for free enterprise until it comes to helping people.’

The ferry service, owned by Baker Trayte Marine, had been running its winter timetable with 17 trips on weekdays and 11 trips on weekends between Hayling Island and Eastney.