Ferry company Wightlink teams up with HM Coastguard on sea safety
Wightlink, the company, which transports passengers from the Isle of Wight to the company’s ports in Portsmouth and Lymington, has teamed up with HM Coastguard to carry out more training to improve safety at sea.
Officers based at the Coastguard’s joint response co-ordination centre (JRCC) in Fareham, Hampshire, have crossed the Solent on board two Wightlink ferries.
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On board they discussed the company’s operations with its captains and bridge officers.
Wightlink's head of fleet operations Captain Sam Mitchell said: "Our Bridge teams have unrivalled knowledge of Solent waters and value our close links with the Coastguard.
"We were pleased to welcome them onboard and hope to carry out more joint exercises in the near future."
Coastguard commander George Close added: "These training visits give us valuable insights into commercial ferry operations.
"Should there be an incident in the Solent we will work together so it’s important to know each other’s systems and procedures. This builds upon the regular Search and Rescue exercises we carry out with Wightlink and other ferry operators in the region."
Visits by Wightlink crews to the JRCC to learn more about the activities of the Coastguard are also planned.
Wightlink’s six vehicle ferries and two FastCat foot passenger catamarans link the Isle of Wight with the company’s ports in Portsmouth and Lymington.
The company says it brings 3.8 million people together every year on more than 140 sailings a day.
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