MV St Clare Ferry Vessel Overview

The MV St Clare is a ferry vessel that operates in the UK. It was built in 1998.

The vessel is 70 meters long and has a gross tonnage of 1,350 tons. It's a pretty substantial boat, if I do say so myself.

The MV St Clare has a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. This allows it to efficiently transport passengers and vehicles between destinations.

The ferry has a capacity for 500 passengers and 130 vehicles. This makes it a popular choice for those traveling with vehicles.

The MV St Clare is a car passenger ferry operated by Wightlink on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route. It's been a staple of the service since its introduction in 2001.

Built in Gdańsk, the MV St Clare has a length of 86 metres and a beam of 18 metres, making it a significant vessel in the waters between the Isle of Wight and the British mainland.

The ship's service speed is 13 knots, which is impressive considering its size. With a loaded draught of 2.6 metres, it can navigate through the waters with ease.

The MV St Clare can carry a substantial number of passengers and vehicles, with a capacity of 878 passengers and 186 cars across three vehicle decks. That's a lot of people and cars!

Here's a breakdown of the ship's key statistics:

The MV St Clare has been an essential part of the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route since its introduction in 2001.

The MV St Clare is a remarkable vessel, and its technical details are quite impressive. The ship measures 85.97 meters in length overall, with a maximum breadth of 18.40 meters.

The ship's propulsion system is powered by four Wartsila 5L20 diesel engines, producing a total power of 3300 kW or 4400 HP.

The MV St Clare is designed to carry a significant number of passengers and vehicles. It has a capacity for 820 passengers and crew, and can accommodate 204 cars.

Here are the key technical details of the MV St Clare at a glance:

MV St Clare was delivered to Ing Lease UK, Ltd in Portsmouth, UK in July 2001, marking the beginning of its journey.

It left the builders on July 12th 2001 and arrived in Portsmouth three days later, on July 16th.

The ferry entered service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne on July 20th 2001.

In 2018, the upper car decks were extended by 5m at either end to enable double deck loading at Wightlink's newly refurbished terminals.

A major refit took place between January and February 2015, during which the ferry was totally refurbished.

MV St Clare came off service at Portsmouth on January 24th 2020 and sailed to Dunkirk for maintenance.

It arrived back in Portsmouth on February 14th 2020, after a brief stop in Dunkirk.

A technical issue forced the ferry to cancel sailings on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route from September 6th to 8th 2023.

For your interest: Ferries from Portsmouth to St Malo France

The MV St Clare has had its fair share of technical issues over the years.

The ferry suffered a technical issue and had to cancel a number of sailings on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route from Sep 6-8, 2023.

Both engines of the ferry developed faults, which were believed to be linked, and the ferry remained sidelined in Portsmouth because of the ongoing technical problem as of Feb 21.

Travel plans for customers were disrupted, and they were asked to cancel or amend bookings online, with full refunds given free-of-charge.

Customers who had booked on the 'St Clare' and had their sailing cancelled can travel on the FastCat free-of-charge.

The ferry suffered a mechanical fault aboard the 'St. Clare', which was sidelined in Portsmouth for repairs on the afternoon of Feb 20, 2025.

Affected passengers were contacted directly by Wightlink to make alternative arrangements.

The MV St Clare is a ferry with a unique design. It has a car deck and a passenger deck.

The ferry is operated by a crew of experienced sailors who ensure the safe transportation of vehicles and passengers. They provide excellent service and are always on hand to help.

The MV St Clare has a capacity for 12 cars and can accommodate up to 150 passengers.