From rusting in a shipyard to Sussex's newest ferry

It once sat in a state of disrepair rusting away in an old shipyard, but a landing craft has now become Sussex's latest ferry service.

"I was looking at boats second-hand online and saw this boat," said Patrick White, owner of Chichester Harbour Charters. "I remembered it from my childhood."

Patrick bought the boat in 2024 and spent months restoring it, before starting private charters last year.

Now the service will be available for anyone wanting to cross Chichester Harbour from Hayling Island in Hampshire to East Head, West Wittering, in Sussex.

The ferry, named Chairman, will run until October, initially from Friday to Sunday, for walkers and cyclists visiting the coast.

Patrick, 31, said: "It was used by an activity centre and was specially built in 2004, I used to go on this boat when I was a child.

"I knew its purpose and potential, it's nice to be able to work on the water in the place I grew up doing what I love.

"It's nice to see the look on people's faces when they get on board, it's not every day people get to go on boats."

It will allow people to skip part of the newly opened King Charles III coastal path.

He added: "The idea with this business model was promoting sustainable travel, I want to encourage people to leave their cars at home and travel by water.

"It's a much quicker way across the harbour opposed to an hour drive to East Head, it has a better environmental impact because there's not as many cars on our roads."

The boat is flat-bottomed with a drop ramp and is powered by a water jet like a jet ski.

It has enough seating for 12 people and will be able to land in ankle deep water at East Head.

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