Hythe ferry service suspended indefinitely after damage to pontoon, says operator

HYTHE ferry has been suspended indefinitely, the operator has confirmed, after engineers discovered damage to an “unsafe” pontoon.

As reported in the A&T the route, which connects Hythe and Southampton, ceased operating last Thursday.

It is regularly used by commuters, shoppers, and football fans travelling to games at Southampton’s St Mary's Stadium, alongside tourists.

Issuing an update on the situation, operations manager Sath Naidoo said: “Following the initial assessment of the Hythe ferry pontoon and its supporting structure, engineers identified damage to steel work and dolphin piling.

“It has therefore been deemed unsafe to continue operation of the ferry at this time. The safety of our teams and customers is our number one priority, so for now, the service will remain suspended until further notice.

“We are extremely sorry for this inconvenience. Rest assured we are doing all we can to evaluate suitable options to repair the damage. As soon as we have further information, we will issue another update.”

Last year it was feared the service would be lost completely after then-operator Blue Funnel Cruises said it was running at an unsustainable loss.

It was poised to stop on 31st December until Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel confirmed it would take over the route.

It had also been under threat in 2016, prompting campaigners to set up a petition which was signed by thousands.

Sath added: “We’re working hard to support our customers during this time, and our teams are on hand to answer any queries you may have.

“If you require any assistance, please call us on 02380 840722, email us at ticketoffice@hytheferry.co.uk or contact a member of our team through our Facebook page.”