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Blue Funnel Group refers to a related set of companies providing boat charter, cruise and ferry services around the
Blue Funnel Cruises was originally formed from two or three companies including the boatbuilding Barkham family who pioneered viewing ocean liners in the 1930s. The trading name ''Blue Funnel'' was adopted about 1965. Walter Charles Hogg bought out the operation in 1979 but ran into financial difficulties in 1992 and was later bought out by the Solent and Wightline Cruises operation.
Solent and Wightline Cruises originated from the Rayment Family providing fishing trips from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and eventually taking over Blue Funnel. The company name was later changed in 2021 to remove the "Wightline" from its name.
Current vessels operated by the group include:
* Generally operated by Solent and Wightline Cruises:
** ''Wight Scene'', launched in 1992 and able to carry up to 500 passengers.
** ''Solent Cat'', a 245-passenger vessel including inside seating for 150.
** ''Jenny M'', a 116-seat vessels suited for harbour tours and school groups.
** ''Jenny Lee'', a 12.9 long vessel with an 18 knot top speed.
** ''Jenny R'', a 12.9 long vessel with an 18 knot top speed, may sometimes operate from Buckler's Hard.
** ''Valerie'', build in 1971 and since totally refurbished with a 17 knot top speed.
* Generally operated by Blue Funnel Cruises:
** ''Ashleigh R'', A twin hull introduced in 2004.
** ''Oliver B'', A vessel generally operating from Bucklers Hard
** ''Ocean Scene'', a sister ship of ''Wight Scene''
* Generally operated by Blue Funnel Ferries:
** , a vessel Blue Funnel Group inherited as part of the Hythe ferry deal. Refitted during maintenance in 2017 including rebranding, adding winter heating and wooden bench seating replacement.
** ''Jenny Blue'', a 13m long vessel sharing Hythe ferry duties with ''Hythe Scene'' as of autumn 2018.
The vessel ''Solent Scene'' was once owned by Solent Cruises under the ''Blue Funnel'' brand, it was sold in May 1998 and is now independent of the company.
Solent
The Solent ( ) is a strait between the Isle of Wight and Great Britain. It is about long and varies in width between , although the Hurst Spit which projects into the Solent narrows the sea crossing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay to ...
and Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
in vessels up to 500 passengers. The Blue Funnel Cruises operating out of Southampton Port
The Port of Southampton is a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of England. The modern era in the history of the Port of Southampton began when the first dock was inaugurated in 1843. The port has been owned and op ...
and the Solent Cruises operating out of Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
and Cowes
Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...
as well as the Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry
Hythe Pier, the Hythe Pier Railway and the Hythe Ferry provide a link between the English port city of Southampton and the Hampshire village of Hythe on the west side of Southampton Water. It is used both by commuters and tourists, and forms an ...
operations are all run independently but co-operatively.
The 75-126 seat ''Jenny'' series of boats are noted for their high speed of up to 19 knots.
History
Blue Funnel Cruises was originally formed from two or three companies including the boatbuilding Barkham family who pioneered viewing ocean liners in the 1930s. The trading name ''Blue Funnel'' was adopted about 1965. Walter Charles Hogg bought out the operation in 1979 but ran into financial difficulties in 1992 and was later bought out by the Solent and Wightline Cruises operation.
Solent and Wightline Cruises originated from the Rayment Family providing fishing trips from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and eventually taking over Blue Funnel. The company name was later changed in 2021 to remove the "Wightline" from its name.
Companies
Blue Funnel Cruises
Blue Funnel Cruises offers cruises betweenSouthampton Port
The Port of Southampton is a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of England. The modern era in the history of the Port of Southampton began when the first dock was inaugurated in 1843. The port has been owned and op ...
and Bucklers Hard
Buckler's Hard is a hamlet on the banks of the Beaulieu River in the English county of Hampshire. With its Georgian cottages running down to the river, Buckler's Hard is part of the Beaulieu Estate. The hamlet is some south of the village of ...
. On 21 April 2017, the company took over the operations of the Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry
Hythe Pier, the Hythe Pier Railway and the Hythe Ferry provide a link between the English port city of Southampton and the Hampshire village of Hythe on the west side of Southampton Water. It is used both by commuters and tourists, and forms an ...
from White Horse Ferries
White Horse Ferries is a company that previously operated a ferry on the English south coast. It is a member of the ''White Horse'' group of sister companies.
Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry
They operated the Hythe Ferry, pier and pier railway ...
and runs it under the Blue Funnel Ferries licence.
Solent Cruises
Solent Cruises offers cruises between theIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
.
Vessels
Current vessels operated by the group include:
* Generally operated by Solent and Wightline Cruises:
** ''Wight Scene'', launched in 1992 and able to carry up to 500 passengers.
** ''Solent Cat'', a 245-passenger vessel including inside seating for 150.
** ''Jenny M'', a 116-seat vessels suited for harbour tours and school groups.
** ''Jenny Lee'', a 12.9 long vessel with an 18 knot top speed.
** ''Jenny R'', a 12.9 long vessel with an 18 knot top speed, may sometimes operate from Buckler's Hard.
** ''Valerie'', build in 1971 and since totally refurbished with a 17 knot top speed.
* Generally operated by Blue Funnel Cruises:
** ''Ashleigh R'', A twin hull introduced in 2004.
** ''Oliver B'', A vessel generally operating from Bucklers Hard
** ''Ocean Scene'', a sister ship of ''Wight Scene''
* Generally operated by Blue Funnel Ferries:
** , a vessel Blue Funnel Group inherited as part of the Hythe ferry deal. Refitted during maintenance in 2017 including rebranding, adding winter heating and wooden bench seating replacement.
** ''Jenny Blue'', a 13m long vessel sharing Hythe ferry duties with ''Hythe Scene'' as of autumn 2018.
The vessel ''Solent Scene'' was once owned by Solent Cruises under the ''Blue Funnel'' brand, it was sold in May 1998 and is now independent of the company.
References
External links
{{Official website, https://bluefunnel.co.uk/ Ferry companies of England Tourist attractions in Hampshire