There are currently three different ferry companies that operate vessels carrying passengers and, on certain routes, vehicles across theSolent, the stretch of sea that separates theIsle of Wight from mainland England. These areWightlink,Red Funnel andHovertravel.

Since the Isle of Wight was separated from mainlandBritain, probably about 7000 years ago,^[1] vessels have transported people and goods across the Solent.^{[citation needed]} However the earliest record of an Isle of Wight ferry service is from 1420 when the Lord of the Manor in Ashey was responsible for boats crossing betweenPortsmouth andRyde. By the 17th century a rota of Ryde fishermen were required, on penalty of a fine, to make daily return crossings to Portsmouth.^[2]

In 1796 a purpose-built sailing boat calledThe Packet began a regular service between Portsmouth and Ryde, and by 1811 two daily return trips were made between the Bugle Inn in Ryde and the Quebec Tavern in Portsmouth.^[2] At that time the boats, known as Ryde Wherries,^[2] had to anchor a considerable distance away from the shore at Ryde, and passengers were transported by horse, cart or on men's backs across the wide and shallow sands to the town.^[3] This problem was resolved in 1814 whenRyde Pier was completed.

In 1817 the first steamship ferry,Britannia, began to operate on the Portsmouth–Ryde route,^[2] but she was found to be unsuitable for her role and quickly withdrawn. The first successful steam-powered regular service on the route began on 5 April 1825 with the paddle steamer PSUnion. Meanwhile, in 1820 the paddle steamer PSPrince of Coburg had begun a service betweenCowes andSouthampton.^[4]

The success of the paddle steamers prompted a period of company formation. In 1827 the Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company (P&RSPC) was formed and took over the running of the PSUnion. This was followed in 1849 by the Portsea, Portsmouth, Gosport and Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (PPG&IWSPC) operating on the same route. These amalgamated on 1 January 1852 as the Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company (PP&RUSPC). In 1873 the Southsea and Isle of Wight Steam Ferry Company (S&IWSFC) began operating betweenClarence Pier,Southsea and Ryde but was quickly taken over by the PP&RUSPC in 1876.^[5]

On the Southampton – Cowes route the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IWRMSPC) was formed in 1820 and the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (IWSPC) in 1826. These merged in 1861, becoming the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IW&SERMSPC).^[4] This company became commonly known as Red Funnel in 1935 and is still operating today. (As of May 2025)

On the Western Solent, the first steam connection between Lymington and Yarmouth was by theGlasgow in March 1830, operated by Lymington owners and continuing also to Cowes, Southampton, Ryde and Portsmouth on various days.^[2]

By 1880 railway lines connected to both the Ryde Pier and the Portsmouth Harbour ferry terminals. It was therefore a natural progression for the railway companies to acquire the ferry routes themselves. To do this theLondon, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) and theLondon and South Western Railway (L&SWR) jointly formed the South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service (SW&BRCSPS).^[6] This new company bought out the PP&RUSPC and the era of railway ownership of the Ryde Portsmouth route began.

In 1884 the Isle of Wight Marine Transit Company started a rail freight ferry link between the Hayling Island Branch line atLangstone and the Bembridge branch line atSt Helens quay. To provide the link the rail ferry PSCarrier was moved from Scotland. The project was unsuccessful and despite being acquired in full by the LB&SCR in 1886 ended in 1888.^[6] It remains the only rail ferry to have operated a service to the Isle of Wight.

In 1884 the Lymington service was bought by the L&SWR.^[4]

In addition to paddle steamers, the SW&BRCSPS used tow boats and a tug to carry livestock and subsequently motor cars from Broad Street, Portsmouth to the slipway at George Street, Ryde.^[6]

During theFirst World War four of the SW&BRCSPS paddle steamers were commandeered by theRoyal Navy as minesweepers, leaving only two behind. The PSDuchess of Richmond was lost to a mine in theMediterranean Sea.^[6]

On 1 January 1923 the SW&BRCSPS was taken over bySouthern Railway which had been created in theGrouping ordered by theRailways Act 1921.^[5]

Three commercial ferry operators currently provide services across the Solent. These areHovertravel,Red Funnel andWightlink. A list of routes is described below.^[7]

Vessels highlighted in Grey still serve the Isle of Wight

Name	Type†	Operator(s)††	Route(s)†††	In service	Out of service	Notes	Image
PSBrittania [spelling?]	P		PR	1817		Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1816. Unsuccessful experiment with steam power. Quickly withdrawn from service
PSUnion	P	P&RSPC	PR	1825
PSArrow	P	P&RSPC	PR	1825
PSLord Yarborough	P	P&RSPC	PR	1826
PSEarl Spencer	P	P&RSPC	PR	1833
Prince Albert	P		PR	1847
Her Majesty	P		PR	1850
Lindsey	P		PR	1850
Prince of Wales	P		PR	1850
Princess Royal	P		PR	1850
Prince Consort	P	PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS	PR	1859	1882	Built by J. Scott Russel, London
Princess of Wales	P	PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS	PR	1865	1885	Built by Lewis & Stockwell, London
Gareloch	P		PR	1863
Chancellor	P		PR	1863
Duke of Edinburgh	P	PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS	PR	1869	1884	Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Princess Alice	P	PP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPS	PR	1869	1882	Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Ventnor	P		PR	1873
Shanklin	P		PR	1873
Southsea	P		PR	1873
Ryde	P		PR	1873
Heather Bell	P		PR	1876
Albert Edward	P		PR	1878
Alexandra	P		PR	1879
Victoria	P		PR	1881
PSCarrier	R	IWMTC, LB&SCR	LS	1884	1888	Built in 1858 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Greenock. Failed rail ferry project. Sold in 1892 to Swedish company.
Duchess of Edinburgh	P	SW&BRCSPS	PR	1884	1910
Duchess of Connaught	P	SW&BRCSPS	PR	1884	1910
Duchess of Albany	P	SW&BRCSPS, SR	PR	1889	1928	Built byScotts, Greenock
Princess Margaret	P	SW&BRCSPS, SR	PR	1893	1928	Built byScotts, Greenock
Duchess of Kent	P	SW&BRCSPS, SR	PR	1897	1933	Built by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Replaced by PSSandown
Duchess of Fife	P	SW&BRCSPS, SR	PR	1899	1929	Built by Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Duchess of Richmond	P	SW&BRCSPS	PR	1910	1915	Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Mined and sank in Med.
Duchess of Norfolk	P	SW&BRCSPS, SR	PR	1911	1937	Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Shanklin	P	SR	PR	1924	1950	Built byJohn I. Thornycroft & Company, Southampton Sold toCosens & Co Ltd and renamed Monarch
Merstone	P	SR	PR	1928	1950	Built byCaledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee
Portsdown	P	SR	PR	1928	1940	Built byCaledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee
Southsea	P	SR	PR	1930	1941	Built byFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Goven
Whippingham	P	SR, BR	PR	1930	1963	Built byFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Goven
Sandown	P	SR, BR	PR	1934	1966	Built byDenny in Dumbarton
PS Ryde	PPS	SR, BR	PR	1937	1970	Built byDenny in Dumbarton
TSMVSouthsea	P	SL	PR	1948	1988	Built byDenny in Dumbarton
TSMVBrading	P	SL	PR	1948	1986	Built byDenny in Dumbarton
TSMVShanklin	P	SL	PR	1951	1980	Built byDenny in Dumbarton. RenamedPrince Ivanhoe and sank off Welsh coast in 1981
HSC Our Lady Patricia	PC	SL / WL	PR	1986	2006	Built byIncat, Australia
HSC Our Lady Pamela	PC	SL / WL	PR	1986	2006	Built byIncat, Australia
HSCFastcat Shanklin	PC	WL	PR	2000	2009
HSCFastcat Ryde	PC	WL	PR	2000	2010
HSC Wight Ryder I	PC	WL	PR	2009
HSC Wight Ryder II	PC	WL	PR	2009
MV Fishbourne (1927)	VP		PF	1927	1961	Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
MV Wooton	VP	SR	PF	1928	1961	Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
Hilsea	VP		PF	1931
MV Lymington	VP	SR, BR	LY	1938	1974	Built byDenny in Dumbarton Sold toWestern Ferries asSound of Sanda
Farringford	VP		PF	1948	1980	Built byDenny in Dumbarton
Freshwater	VP		PF	1959	1982	Built byAilsa Shipbuilding Company,Troon Sold toWestern Ferries asSound of Seil[9]
Camber Queen	VP	SL	PF	1961	1984	Built byPhilip and Son inDartmouth[10]
MV Fishbourne (1961)	VP	SL	PF/LY	1961	1983	Built byPhilip and Son inDartmouth[8]
MV Cuthred	VP	SL	PF	1969	1984	Built byRichards (Shipbuilders) Ltd inLowestoft
Shearwater	PH	RF	SC	1969	1973
Shearwater 2	PH	RF	SC	1970	1971
Shearwater 3	PH	RF	SC	1972	1992
Shearwater 4	PH	RF	SC	1973	1992
Shearwater 5	PH	RF	SC	1982	1999
Shearwater 6	PH	RF	SC	1982	1999
MV Caedmon	VP	SL / WL	PF(1973) / LY(1983)	1973	2009	Built byRobb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenwulf	VP	SL / WL	PF(1973) / LY(1983)	1973	2009	Built byRobb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenred	VP	SL / WL	PF(1974) / LY(1983)	1974	2009	Built byRobb Caledon in Dundee
MV St Catherine	VP	SL / WL	PF	1983	2010	Built byRobb Caledon Shipbuilders in Leith
MV St Helen	VP	SL / WL	PF	1983	2015	Built byRobb Caledon Shipbuilders in Leith
MV St Cecilia	VP	SL / WL	PF	1987	2019	Built byCochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Faith	VP	WL	PF	1990		Built byCochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Clare	VP	WL	PF	2001		Built byRemontowa,Gdańsk
PSGem	P	IWSPC, RF	SC	1840	1883	Built by J. White, Cowes. Scrapped in 1889.
PSRuby	P	IWRMSPC, RF	SC	1841	1872	Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam for the South Western & Isle of Wight Steam Navigation Co as 'The Pride of the Waters'
PSPearl	P	IWRMSPC, RF	SC	1844	1867	Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam. Scrapped in 1875
PSQueen (I)	P	IWRMSPC, RF	SC	1848	1876	Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PSPrince of Coburg	P	IWSPC	SC	1820		Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1817
Earl of Malmsbury	P	IWSPC	SC
George IV	P	IWSPC	SC
PSMedina (I)	P	IWRMSPC, RF	SC	1852	1882	Built by J. White, Cowes asThe Times
PSEmerald	P	IWSPC, RF	SC	1857	1871	Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PSSaphire	P	IWSPC, RF	SC	1860	1873	Built by CA Day. Northam.
PSPrincess Elizabeth	PPS	IWSPC, RF	SC	1927		Built byDay, Summers and Company
MVNorris Castle	VP	RF	SC	1947	1962	Built by Alexander Finlay & Co in Glasgow. Originally constructed as a tank landing craft for theNormandy landings. Sold to a Greek operator.
MVBalmoral	VP	RF	SC	1949	1968	Built byJ Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold toP & A Campbell
MVCarisbrooke Castle	VP	RF	SC	1959	1974	Built byJ Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to operator in Naples[11]
MV Osborne Castle	VP	RF	SC	1962	1978	Built byJ Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to a Canadian ferry company.
MV Cowes Castle	VP	RF	SC	1965	1994	Built byJ Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MVNorris Castle	VP	RF	SC	1968	1994	Built byJ Thornycroft & Co in Woolston. Sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Netley Castle	VP	RF	SC	1974	1997	Built by Ryton Marine Ltd inWallsend. Sold to operator in Croatia[11]
MV Bergen Castle	VP	RF	SC	2003	2005	Purchased by Red Funnel to maintain a 3 ship service while the Raptor class where away being refitted
MVRed Eagle	VP	RF	SC	1996		Built byFerguson Shipbuilders
MVRed Falcon	VP	RF	SC	1994		Built byFerguson Shipbuilders
MVRed Osprey	VP	RF	SC	1994		Built byFerguson Shipbuilders
Red Jet 1	PC	RF	SC	1991	2009	Built byFairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 2	PC	RF	SC	1992	2009	Built byFairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 3	PC	RF	SC	1998	2019	Built byFairey Marine, Southampton
Red Jet 4	PC	RF	SC	2003	2024	Built by North West Bay Ships,Hobart
Red Jet 5	PC	RF	SC	2009	2016
MVWight Light	VP	WL	LY	2009		Built byKraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
MVWight Sky	VP	WL	LY	2009		Built byKraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
MVWight Sun	VP	WL	LY	2009		Built byKraljevica Shipyard, Croatia
Double-O-Seven	H	HT	SR	1989	2003	Built byBritish Hovercraft Corporation
Freedom 90	H	HT	SR	1990	2018	Built byBritish Hovercraft Corporation
Courier	H	HT	SR	1990	2000	Built byBritish Hovercraft Corporation
Idun Viking	H	HT	SR	1997	2002	Built byBritish Hovercraft Corporation
Island Express	H	HT	SR	2002	2017	Built byBritish Hovercraft Corporation
Solent Express	H	HT	SR	2007	2011	Built byGriffon Hoverwork, Southampton TheSolent Express was used on Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft passenger trials in 2007.
Solent Flyer	H	HT	SR	2016		Built byGriffon Hoverwork, Southampton
Island Flyer	H	HT	SR	2016		Built byGriffon Hoverwork, Southampton
Red Jet 6	PC	RF	SC	2016		Built byWight Shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Red Jet 7	PC	RF	SC	2018		Built byWight Shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight
MVVictoria of Wight	VP	WL	PF	2018		Built byCemre Shipyard, Turkey
MVRed Kestrel	F	RF	SC	2019		Built byCammell Laird, Birkenhead Operates as a freight only vessel

• Ferry transport on the Isle of Wight
• Transport in Portsmouth
• Transport in Hampshire

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