Ferries

Back in March, I noticed (at reference 1) that fact that one of the Wightlink ferries to the Isle of Wight was built in the Philippines.

Whereas this holiday we used new-to-us, two-decker car ferries, complete with a large sun deck on top. Coming back yesterday on the St. Clare, I looked around for a maker's plaque like that found in March, without success. But a few clicks this morning take me to reference 2, where I learn that this ferry was built in Gdansk in 2001 - so she has been around for a while, even if we have not used her before now. Which is odd, considering that we have been to the island nearly every year for the past fifteen years or more. Furthermore, the new high level ramps giving direct access to the upper car deck have only just been built, in the last year or so, so how did they manage loading and unloading in the interim?

There was better news about ferries in the local newspaper, the County Press, in which we read that the Mexicans are buying ferries built by the Wight Shipyard in East Cowes. For which see reference 3, from which the snap above is taken. Very flashy, very Mexican! And shipbuilding over here is not quite extinct.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/03/ferries.html.

Reference 2: http://faktaomfartyg.se/st_clare_2001.htm.

Reference 3: https://www.ultramarferry.com/en.