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New Island ferries pass their sea trials
THE first of a controversial fleet of Island car ferries starts service this autumn, company bosses have revealed.
Wightlink's new Wight-Class vessel has been undergoing sea trials in Croatia and sets sail for Lymington this month.
Campaigners, who have held a number of high profile public meetings to block the upgrade plan, fear the three new larger boats will displace more water and damage the salt marshes that protect the town from the sea.
But company bosses say the new Lymington to Yarmouth service will have no greater environmental impact than the boats they plan to replace. Once the ship arrives in the UK, it will undergo further trials and crew operational training on the Solent.
Harbour authorities at Lymington and Yarmouth will monitor their performance before procedures are finalised and a date confirmed for the vessel's first official crossing.
Andrew Willson from Wight Link, said: "The sea trials went according to plan and provided further evidence that the new Wight-Class vessels will be ideal replacements for the existing Lymington-Yarmouth fleet.
"Our own crew will sail the ship back to the UK and we expect to welcome Wight Light into Solent waters for its final series of trials by the beginning of September."
8:27am Friday 1st August 2008
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