One of 4 vessels constructed in the late 80's / 90's for Sealink British Ferries
- remember them - for their domestic Portsmouth / Fishbourne route, only the St. Faith remains in UK waters and has little changed over thirty years..
Presently only operating as relief / back-up to assist during times of of operational needs, or during peak demand, at other times she remains laid-up on a floating pontoon off Gunwalf Quays, Portsmouth.
It breaks my heart seeing this classic ship just sitting idle.
When an opportunity arose for me to undertake a rare crossing aboard her, I jumped at the chance!
Arriving more than two hours early to catch her 0830hrs crossing to Fishbourne,
St Faith could be seen resting on her layby pontoon whilst her newer fleet mates
St. Clare and Victoria of Wight came/went as normal.
Viewed from the nearby Bath Square her crew were seen being transported out to the pontoon by motorboat to bring St Faith astern onto her Portsmouth berth once it was available, and just before 0830hrs I along with one other foot passenger were able to embark via her vehicle deck.
Unlike her newer sisters, she only has one vehicle deck which makes her good as a freight ferry with no overhead obstructions, but as a car ferry with no mezzanine deck, her days must surly be numbered?
Would you like to come aboard with me and check-out this classic ship?
I will meet you at the Portsmouth Gunwharf Terminal at the bottom of the gangway.
Having had our QR code scanned at the bottom of the gangway we walk across the (only) vehicle deck, following the yellow painted deck markings towards her aft stair well.
Mind your step as the deck is slippery.
Let's ascend her aft stairs to the main passenger deck.
It's like being transported back in time - the staircase is steep and narrow with relatively low head height and she has an 'old ferry smell' - certainly not unpleasant - it was the smell of oil or something mechanical. A smell that transported me back to my younger self when I would travel to the continent from Dover aboard the ferries at that time. She smelt like a 'proper ship'.
We emerge at the after end of the main deck, opposite the counter service café.
Time to come clean. I have been aboard St. Faith and one of her sisters before, around ten years ago, so I know her layout.
Her passenger facilities are located on one and a half decks. Her main deck consists of four large open plan lounges on her port/forward/starboard/aft sides with a counter service cafeteria in the later.
The counter service café offers hot and cold beverages and light snacks - nothing further is required as the crossing is only around 40min and catering facilities are available within the terminal buildings of both ports if something a little more substantial is required.
The seating for the café is aft of the main counter and consists of comfortable free standing upholstered chairs positioned around tables, though being open plan to the rest of the deck there is no reason why you couldn't take your purchases and dine elsewhere.
I adore the symmetrical design of the aft stairwell.
Gaming machines and access to the exterior deck via a flight of external stairs high above the vehicle deck can be obtained from this stern café.
I hope you are not afraid of heights!
St. Faith's interior is fully carpeted with a cheerful red patterned carpet with a coarser grey matting around the bottom of stairs and areas of high thoroughfare.
The high capacity open plan lounges on the main deck can effectively 'swallow' large passenger volumes.
These lounges have simple furnishings; seating 'booths' accommodating eight persons with chairs decorated in orange and dark green fabric, plenty of legroom, small table within each booth and large window.
Toilet facilities are located within the funnel casing with gents to port and ladies to starboard.
Although a very simple design, she is incredibly 'homely' and other than a little rust around the inside of the large windows and the glass being a little obscured owing to its age (which I kind of like as you know you are on a 'proper' ferry and not a soulless new-build, St. Faith is extremely well maintained - no obvious wear and tear on her carpeting or seating.
Let's go back to the café and go upstairs to the aft lounge.
This lounge only occupies the aft portion of this deck, the rest being crew only.
It is a pet friendly area thereby allowing you to bring your dog into the passenger area and not leave him/her in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing - there are eight dogs in here for our crossing, all very well behaved and Wightlink have even provided dog bowls.
The same style of seating and carpeting is available in here as in downstairs, with the exception of the booths which are able to accommodate six persons.
Strangely this lounge did not smell of dogs (you know sometimes you can smell pets if you do not have own one of your own) despite the amount of upholstery in here.
Having an explore of this deck you can find some 'old school' reminders of her heritage such as pine melamine wall coverings, steep stairwells and chunky handrails. You don't get those anymore.
The exterior deck offers some plastic blue seating and I was particularly impressed by the exterior deck on the upper most deck between the funnel and aft mast which affords the best views.
Point of note, when built each of the four sister ships were defined by the colour of their plastic chairs on the exterior decks; St Helen had red chairs, St Catherine green, St Cecilia yellow and St Faith blue - whether these are the original blue seats which remain to this day is unknown.
Now in a class of her own she definitely has an old ship look, feel, smell and motion.
She is a great ship and if you ever have the opportunity of travelling aboard her, please do.
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