THE first phase of Red Funnel’s £10 million terminal redevelopment at East Cowes has been completed on time and on budget by Isle of Wight-based, Stoneham Construction.

The ferry firm said the new extended marshalling area would accommodate one full ship's worth of traffic at any one time and improved the check-in process and embarkation time for private and commercial customers.

Free Wi-Fi coverage will be available soon so travellers can check e-mails prior to boarding.

Fran Collins, Red Funnel’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted the new marshalling area was finished on time and to such a high standard.

"It has already reduced queue lengths at check-in and improved embarkation times for customers. It’s also now possible to group different types of vehicles which makes the stowage of traffic on-board easier for the deck crews.”

Phase two of the East Cowes gateway project, which includes a new purpose-built terminal building, starts in the New Year and will be completed by summer 2020.

Once finished, the land vacated at Phoenix and Trinity will be redeveloped and could potentially include a hotel, housing, offices, restaurants and shops.