Shipping

The Solent is very busy with a wide range of shipping. There are two separate organisations with responsibility for all shipping and boating activity in The Solent. The King’s Harbour Master (KHM) controls Portsmouth Harbour and the Eastern Solent, all of that in front of Stokes Bay. Associated British Ports (ABP) controls the approaches to Southampton Water from a line joining Cowes to Hill Head. Regular ships passing the bay range from cruise liners, roll-on/roll-off car carriers, bulk cargo and container ships all heading for Southampton and oil tankers heading to Fawley Oil Refinery.

Cruise Liners

Regular cruise liners are from P&O and Cunard, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian and Disney Cruise Lines amongst others. Most cruise ships pass Stokes Bay in the early hours to arrive in Southampton for about 7am departing from 5pm onwards and passing Stokes Bay in the early evening.

One of the regulars is P&Os Iona which travels weekly between April and September to and from the Norwegian Fjords. Along with her twin, Arvia, she is the largest ship in the P&O fleet.

  • Iona (P&O)
  • Ventura (P&O)
  • Aida Pearl
  • Celebrity Eclipse
  • Queen Mary 2
  • Queen Elizabeth
  • MSC Virtuosa
Commercial Shipping and Ferries

Amongst the most commonly seen commercial ships are vehicle carriers such as Themis, 200m long and part of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean fleet seen here seen approaching Southampton to off load part of its vast number of new cars.

Another frequently seen ship Blade Runner 2 sailing from Cowes to Portsmouth and carrying offshore wind turbine blades. At 80m long the blades, which are manufactured on the Isle of Wight, cannot be transported by normal vessels so Williams Shipping operates a purpose-built blade transport barge for the business. 

Immediately opposite is the Wightlink Fishbourne car ferry terminal with regular ferries to and from the Isle of Wight. Fast Cat and hovercraft ferries also traverse the Solent to Ryde.

  • Themis
  • Blade Runner 2
  • Victoria of Wight
  • Container Ship
Anchorages

Stokes Bay is also home for the “Charlie Anchorage” where ships visiting Portsmouth anchor usually because they are too large for Portsmouth Harbour. And frequently tall ships and other craft anchor in the bay.

Arrivals and departures over a 24-hour periods can be seen at:

https://www.solentships.com/expected.html

Planned shipping in and out of Southampton can be seen at:

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/