Case Study Wightlink

Overview of Asset

In 2018, Fiera Infrastructure acquired a 50% equity interest in Wightlink, the leading ferry operator serving the Isle of Wight, England’s largest island.

Wightlink carries approximately 5 million visitors and residents across the Solent annually, offering 45,000 sailings a year utilizing eight ferries on three routes.

Key Components of the ESG Program

Wightlink has a Sustainability and Risk Manager to develop a boarder environmental plan and strategy. The sustainability Manager has been tasked with:

  • Promoting and raising awareness at all levels of the organization of the impact of emerging environmental issues
  • Setting organizational sustainability targets
  • Developing and implementing environmental management systems to continually improve the impact of the organization on the environment
  • Wightlink is an equal opportunities employer, employing 495 full-time equivalent employees
  • Wightlink strives to achieve the highest levels of employee satisfaction and has embarked on a number of staff development programs, including leadership workshops, coaching and mentoring
  • Established a separate Health, Safety and Environmental committee whose responsibility is to be proactive in solving issues and developing short, medium and long-term improvement plans where necessary

Key ESG Stats

2021 GRESB score of 82, improving from a 2020 score of 68 with the help and direction of Fiera Infrastructure’s ESG Committee. Received 4-star rating and rated second in its class of Ports

Team

Team

495 full-time equivalent employees
Sustainability

Sustainability

Victoria of Wight is the first hybrid energy ferry in England and uses 17% less fuel than a conventional ferry

Future ESG Plans

Wightlink is finalizing a new climate risk register to further enhance management of climate related risks.

The company continues to develop a decarbonization plan that involves retrofitting existing ferries and procuring a new fully-electric ferry.

Wightlink is developing a biodiversity and habitat impact plan.

Case Studies