Gosport Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Gosport Ferry is a ferry
service operating between Gosport
pontoon
and Portsmouth
pontoon in Hampshire
, southern England
. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Falkland Islands Holdings
, following a £
10 million hostile takeover
in 2004.
that currently operates the Gosport ferry was created in 1883 as the Port of Portsmouth Steam Launch & Towing Company, making it one of the longest serving ferry
services in the UK. In 1963, it took over the Gosport & Portsea Watermen's Steam Launch Company, founded in 1875 by the Watermen
, who had operated ferries on the route for centuries. These Watermen had enjoyed protected rights between 1603 and 1840, limiting operation of ferries on the route to Gosport residents.
In 1840, a steam operated chain ferry was introduced, to a design similar to that already in use at Woolston. The chain ferry ceased operation in 1959.
Upon the takeover
in 1963, the company changed its name to the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company (plc
since 2001). In addition to Gosport Ferries Ltd and other related interests, PHFC also owns Clarence Marine Engineering Ltd, which provides maintenance services for the ferries as well as general marine engineering services. Gosport Ferries Ltd was incorporated in 1988, registered company 2254382; Clarence Marine Engineering was incorporated in 1987, registered company 2139067. Both are non- trading companies whose registered office is located in South Street, Gosport, head offices for the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company Ltd plc, registered company 18751.
The company currently operates four vessels: the oldest ferries, Gosport Queen and her sister Portsmouth Queen
, and the newest ferries, Spirit of Gosport
and Spirit of Portsmouth
. All four vessels have doors built to align with the doors on the Gosport pontoon.
Three notable vessels that have previously operated the service since 1966 are as follows;
pontoon to the Portsmouth
pontoon (and return) every 15 minutes from 5.30am to midnight, and more frequently at busy periods. The journey time takes approximately 5 minutes. All tickets are valid for return journeys - no single tickets are sold.
around the Solent
. In the early 70's cruises were operated by 'Solent Enterprise' (then 'Gay Enterprise'), 'Vita', 'Vesta' and 'Ferry Queen' (three of the smaller original diesel ferries). The three were sold, (with the arrival of 'Southsea Queen' in 1974), however in 1978 'Southsea Queen' was sold. The cruises after that continued to be operated by just the company's cruise ferry 'Solent Enterprise', however it has been known on the odd occasions, (in the late 80's and early 90's) for one of the 'Queens' to operate on a Harbour or Solent cruise, (when either 'Portsmouth Queen' or 'Gosport Queen' were not operating on their usual work horse ferry duties). In the height of the summer, it was not unusual to see 'Solent Enterprise' (on a day trip to Cowes, Isle of Wight) and 'Portsmouth Queen' (on a cruise around the Solent and Harbour) both passing Clarence Pier, off Southsea. Two days of special evening cruises occurred during The Festival of the Sea, when the 'Solent Enterprise' and 'Gosport Queen' did a special harbour cruise to view the tall ships and fireworks by night. Now cruises are generally operated by the Spirit of Portsmouth, which has moquette
seating upstairs (also with seating with tables in the centre section) as well as a bar.
When there are no more cruises for a year, the Spirit of Portsmouth operates on the ferry service alongside the Spirit of Gosport. The latter vessel replaces the former when the former is out of service. Cruises were once the duty of the withdrawn vessels, the Southsea Queen and the Solent Enterprise.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service operating between Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
pontoon
Pontoon (boat)
A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
pontoon in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Falkland Islands Holdings
Falkland Islands Holdings
Falkland Islands Holdings plc or FIH is a British conglomerate which plays a key role in the economy of the Falkland Islands through the Falklands Islands Company...
, following a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
10 million hostile takeover
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
in 2004.
History
The companyCompany
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
that currently operates the Gosport ferry was created in 1883 as the Port of Portsmouth Steam Launch & Towing Company, making it one of the longest serving ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services in the UK. In 1963, it took over the Gosport & Portsea Watermen's Steam Launch Company, founded in 1875 by the Watermen
Watermen
Watermen are river workers who transfer passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in Britain and its colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in...
, who had operated ferries on the route for centuries. These Watermen had enjoyed protected rights between 1603 and 1840, limiting operation of ferries on the route to Gosport residents.
In 1840, a steam operated chain ferry was introduced, to a design similar to that already in use at Woolston. The chain ferry ceased operation in 1959.
Upon the takeover
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
in 1963, the company changed its name to the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company (plc
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
since 2001). In addition to Gosport Ferries Ltd and other related interests, PHFC also owns Clarence Marine Engineering Ltd, which provides maintenance services for the ferries as well as general marine engineering services. Gosport Ferries Ltd was incorporated in 1988, registered company 2254382; Clarence Marine Engineering was incorporated in 1987, registered company 2139067. Both are non- trading companies whose registered office is located in South Street, Gosport, head offices for the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company Ltd plc, registered company 18751.
The vessels
Portsmouth Queen
The Portsmouth Queen was a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. It was built by Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire.-History:The vessel was built in 1966 to the exact design to the Gosport Queen and was delivered in a green and white livery. Later, it was repainted into the now standard...
, and the newest ferries, Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol. -History:Spirit of Gosport was built in 2001 to replace the Portsmouth Queen on ferry duties. However, the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise, which operated cruise...
and Spirit of Portsmouth
Spirit of Portsmouth
Spirit of Portsmouth is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by VT Halmatic Ltd of Portchester. It is the company's newest vessel.-History:...
. All four vessels have doors built to align with the doors on the Gosport pontoon.
- The Spirit of PortsmouthSpirit of PortsmouthSpirit of Portsmouth is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by VT Halmatic Ltd of Portchester. It is the company's newest vessel.-History:...
is the second newest vessel of the fleet. It has a covered top deck (unlike previous vessels) and a bar, so it is normally restricted to cruise services. The vessel does, however, occasionally operate on the ferry service. Unlike its predecessor, Solent Enterprise, it is painted in standard Gosport Ferry livery.
- The Spirit of GosportSpirit of GosportSpirit of Gosport is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol. -History:Spirit of Gosport was built in 2001 to replace the Portsmouth Queen on ferry duties. However, the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise, which operated cruise...
is the first newest vessel of the fleet. It was built in 2001. It is of the same design as the Spirit of Portsmouth, but without the covered roof and bar. During its first few months in service it ran alongside the two Queens due to teething problems.
- The Gosport Queen and Portsmouth QueenPortsmouth QueenThe Portsmouth Queen was a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. It was built by Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire.-History:The vessel was built in 1966 to the exact design to the Gosport Queen and was delivered in a green and white livery. Later, it was repainted into the now standard...
are the oldest ships of the fleet. They were built in 1966 to replace two of the four original, much smaller, Gosport ferries.
Three notable vessels that have previously operated the service since 1966 are as follows;
- Solent EnterpriseSundance (charter vessel)Sundance is a charter vessel owned by Capital Pleasure Boats and operating on the River Thames. Former names are Gay Enterprise and Solent Enterprise.-History:...
(formerly Gay Enterprise) was previously the pride of the fleet. It was built in 1971, she was 275 tons and built to provide cruise services and standby ferry duties. The ferry proved very popular on both her summer cruises and winter standby duties. When on the ferry run, she was usually used during peak periods only. It looked similar to the other ferries built in 1966, but had a bar, dance floor, restaurant, deck shelter and was painted (in later years) in a blue liveryLiveryA livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
. This ferry was replaced in 2003 by the Spirit of Portsmouth and was sold in 2005 to Capital Pleasure Boats, who renamed her SundanceSundance (charter vessel)Sundance is a charter vessel owned by Capital Pleasure Boats and operating on the River Thames. Former names are Gay Enterprise and Solent Enterprise.-History:...
for operation as a charter vessel on the River ThamesRiver ThamesThe River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. 'Solent Enterprise' is now in Denmark as a house boat having been sold by Capital Pleasure.
- The Portsmouth QueenPortsmouth QueenThe Portsmouth Queen was a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. It was built by Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire.-History:The vessel was built in 1966 to the exact design to the Gosport Queen and was delivered in a green and white livery. Later, it was repainted into the now standard...
was built in 1966 of 159 tons and as a sister ship to the Gosport Queen. This vessel replaced the other two original, smaller, Gosport ferries. However three of the original, smaller diesel powered ferries were kept and used for harbour cruises in the summer and standby ferry duties in the winter months, when 'Gosport Queen' or 'Portsmouth Queen' was away for refit. The three original ferries the company kept were 'Vita', 'Vesta' and 'Ferry Queen', they were fondly known by retired Captain Albert 'Tiddler' Jessey and his Grandson as 'The Marjorie Daw boats', (after the nursery rhyme), as they rolled in rough weather like the motion of a seesaw. In 1974 'Vita', 'Vesta' and 'Ferry Queen' were sold with the arrival of the 'Southsea Queen'.
- The Southsea QueenCruiser (charter vessel)Cruiser is a vessel owned by Clyde Marine Services Ltd operating in the River Clyde as part of the company's charter cruise fleet. Former names are Southsea Queen, Hythe Hotspur and Poole Scene.-History:...
was built in 1974 of 119 tons, to replace the three original diesel ferries 'Vita', 'Vesta' and 'Ferry Queen'. but she was unsuccessful and was sold to White Horse Ferries LtdWhite Horse Ferries LtdWhite Horse Ferries is a company that operates ferries along the English south coast. They operate the Hythe Ferry and the pier as well....
just four years later, in 1978. It subsequently operated on the Hythe Ferry service where it was renamed Hythe Hotspur. It was withdrawn from this service in 1995. After a period on charter to Brownsea Island Ferries LtdBrownsea Island Ferries LtdBrownsea Island Ferries Ltd is a company that operates ferries to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour from Poole and Sandbanks. It also operates cruises around Poole Harbour, Bournemouth, Sandbanks, the Jurassic Coast and the Isle of Wight. The vessels operated by the company are the Maid of Poole,...
in Poole HarbourPoole HarbourPoole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores. The harbour is a drowned valley formed at the end of the last ice age and is the estuary of several rivers, the largest being the Frome. The harbour has a long history of human settlement...
, it was bought by Clyde Maritime Services Ltd and renamed CruiserCruiser (charter vessel)Cruiser is a vessel owned by Clyde Marine Services Ltd operating in the River Clyde as part of the company's charter cruise fleet. Former names are Southsea Queen, Hythe Hotspur and Poole Scene.-History:...
.
The ferry service
The ferry operates from the GosportGosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
pontoon to the Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
pontoon (and return) every 15 minutes from 5.30am to midnight, and more frequently at busy periods. The journey time takes approximately 5 minutes. All tickets are valid for return journeys - no single tickets are sold.
Cruises
The Gosport Ferry also operates cruisesCruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
around the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
. In the early 70's cruises were operated by 'Solent Enterprise' (then 'Gay Enterprise'), 'Vita', 'Vesta' and 'Ferry Queen' (three of the smaller original diesel ferries). The three were sold, (with the arrival of 'Southsea Queen' in 1974), however in 1978 'Southsea Queen' was sold. The cruises after that continued to be operated by just the company's cruise ferry 'Solent Enterprise', however it has been known on the odd occasions, (in the late 80's and early 90's) for one of the 'Queens' to operate on a Harbour or Solent cruise, (when either 'Portsmouth Queen' or 'Gosport Queen' were not operating on their usual work horse ferry duties). In the height of the summer, it was not unusual to see 'Solent Enterprise' (on a day trip to Cowes, Isle of Wight) and 'Portsmouth Queen' (on a cruise around the Solent and Harbour) both passing Clarence Pier, off Southsea. Two days of special evening cruises occurred during The Festival of the Sea, when the 'Solent Enterprise' and 'Gosport Queen' did a special harbour cruise to view the tall ships and fireworks by night. Now cruises are generally operated by the Spirit of Portsmouth, which has moquette
Moquette
Moquette is type of fabric with a thick, dense pile. It is a particularly versatile and hard-wearing material, predominantly wool with a small percentage of polyester. Moquette is renowned for its attractive, hard-wearing, durable, and fire-resistant qualities, hence it is commonly used for...
seating upstairs (also with seating with tables in the centre section) as well as a bar.
When there are no more cruises for a year, the Spirit of Portsmouth operates on the ferry service alongside the Spirit of Gosport. The latter vessel replaces the former when the former is out of service. Cruises were once the duty of the withdrawn vessels, the Southsea Queen and the Solent Enterprise.