Ferry Service Disruptions Attributed to Staffing Issues

A ferry company has announced the cancellation of multiple high-speed services across the Solent, citing insufficient staff availability. Red Funnel confirmed that its Red Jet route, connecting Southampton and West Cowes on the Isle of Wight, would operate on an adjusted timetable after several Monday crossings were cut. The operator indicated that this revised schedule would be in effect until Wednesday and advised passengers to check for real-time service updates. It was also confirmed that an additional crossing would be provided for the Southampton FC match against Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday. The company expressed regret for “any inconvenience” caused, stating that the modified timetable was a result of “limited availability of crew.” This supplementary crossing for the Saints match is scheduled for 23:40 GMT, following the team’s EFL Cup quarter-final game against Liverpool. Red Funnel stated: “To support fans making their way back to the island after the game, we’ve added an additional sailing to our Red Jet timetable for that evening.” A spokesperson further elaborated: “The situation relates to the rare instance of the unavailability of critical crew members due to sickness. “Our team worked hard to explore all available alternatives, but due to legal requirements for staff rest, we were left with no option but to cancel some sailings.”The revised timetable ensures a service is running throughout the day.”