Three-Hour Ferry Delays After Threat to Jump at Portsmouth Harbour
Chaos hit Portsmouth Harbour early Thursday as a person threatened to jump off a Wightlink ferry, sparking a police stand-off. The drama has caused massive disruption, with Wightlink warning of at least three-hour delays on its Portsmouth-Fishbourne route.
Emergency Response at Portsmouth Wightlink Terminal
Coastguard crews in drysuits arrived at the terminal just after 4am, responding to the serious incident. Rescue teams from Portsmouth and Hillhead were scrambled as police specialists negotiated with the individual moments before the ferry was due to sail.
Services Suspended, Travel Chaos for Island Passengers
Hampshire Constabulary took to Twitter urging the public to avoid the terminal area and warned travel to the Isle of Wight would be heavily disrupted. Wightlink confirmed the incident is customer-related but gave no further details.
The 3am sailing from Portsmouth was cancelled, adding to delays. Wightlink’s Portsmouth-Fishbourne service remains suspended until further notice, with passengers advised not to arrive until told otherwise.
Ongoing Disruption Despite Incident Being ‘Resolved’
Though police have reportedly resolved the crisis, Wightlink says the ferry service will stay suspended for now. A spokesperson warned:
“All customers booked on this route today are likely to be affected. We will keep them informed through email this morning.”
Island residents and tourists can expect major travel headaches throughout Thursday as operators try to get services back on track.
