By Isle of Wight Observer
Wightlink has been awarded Best Ferry Operator 2024 at the National Transport Awards in London at an event hosted by comedian Jon Culshaw.
Wightlink’s new CEO Katy Taylor, who recently joined the company from Southern Water, said: “We’re thrilled to be named ferry operator of the year at the National Transport Awards. It’s all thanks to the hard work of our crews and colleagues at Wightlink’s six ports and eight ferries who always put our customers first.”
The other finalists were Hovertravel and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Uber Boat won last year’s award.
The winners were decided by a judging panel of transport insiders and senior civil servants. You can see the list of judges here.
Companies nominate themselves for the awards with no input from the public. The National Transport Awards are organised by Transport Times Events Ltd, a Scottish company operating from a private address in Fife organising conferences and awards, sponsored by various large transport operators and ‘supported by’ a number of publicly-funded organisations and the Department for Transport.
Wightlink describe themselves as an industry leader in decarbonisation and innovation. The company carries more than 3.8 million people a year between the Isle of Wight and ports in Portsmouth and Lymington with more than 140 scheduled sailings a day – although there are frequent cancellations.
Wightlink’s hybrid-electric flagship Victoria of Wight sails 24 hours a day (when key staff are available) between Portsmouth and Fishbourne with a claimed 20 per cent fewer emissions than similar conventionally powered ships. The company’s ambition is to commission all-electric ferries when suitable shore power is available.
The IW Observer has asked for a copy of Wightlink’s entry and how many companies entered the category.
