The Customer:

Wightlink is one of the UK’s leading ferry operators, providing essential transport services between the Isle of Wight and mainland England. Operating a busy and time-critical fleet, Wightlink relies on continuous vessel availability to maintain passenger and freight movement across the Solent.

The Task:

Wightlink approached Marlin Environmental Services after discovering significant contamination in their static fuel bunker barge. With the vessel unable to berth alongside the harbour—and the ferry service needing to remain operational—they required a rapid, flexible solution to restore fuel integrity and ensure continued service reliability.

The challenge was to restore fuel quality and fully clean both tanks—without taking the vessel out of service and while carrying out all work from within the harbour environment.

What We Did:

A team of specialist cleaners and engineers deployed a mobile fuel-polishing rig and all necessary equipment onto a barge positioned in the harbour. Bunded IBC containers were placed on the barge to safely to collect and store contaminated waste.

The process was completed in carefully planned stages. We first emptied one of the vessel’s fuel tanks and carried out a full internal clean. Once prepared, we polished the contaminated fuel and transferred it into the newly cleaned tank. With the fuel safely stored, we then cleaned the remaining tank, restoring both tanks to full operational condition.

The Outcome:

Across the operation, around 60,000 litres of fuel were successfully polished. The full task, including mobilisation and demobilisation, was completed within four days, with 250-350 litres of fuel polished per minute. Wightlink’s vessel remained operational throughout the process, minimising downtime and disruption to ferry services. The barge-based solution allowed all works to be carried out efficiently, safely, and without requiring the vessel to come alongside the harbour—delivering a practical fix to a complex logistical challenge.

Thanks so much for providing such an outstanding service last week, I was really impressed by, and grateful for, your company’s quick reaction to our emergent defects and your team were very flexible and diligent in their work in rather chilly conditions. Thanks again for an excellent service. – Wightlink