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Red Funnel News

16 Jul 2020

Red Funnel Gains DNV GL COVID-19 Statement of Compliance

(File photo: Red Funnel)

U.K. ferry operator Red Funnel said it is the world’s first domestic ferry operator to receive the DNV GL COVID-19 Statement of Compliance. The assessment certifies that Red Funnel has established reasonable measures to safeguard passengers, employees and crew from the COVID-19 infection.“The COVID-19 outbreak has had a major impact on passenger vessels across Europe. As lockdown measures begin to relax in the U.K., as well as in the rest of the region, ferry operators need to demonstrate that the right measures are in place to keep passengers and crew safe…

18 Mar 2020

COVID-19: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Issues "Unprecedented Exemption" for Car Ferry

Photo: Red Funnel

MCA grants temporary ability for Red Funnel passengers to remain in vehicles on select crossingsRed Funnel worked with the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to identify exceptional solutions to support the government’s social distancing guidance in response to COVID-19 and respond to passengers’ requests to remain in vehicles during crossings.“We’d like to thank the MCA for working with us to identify solutions to allow our passengers this option during this exceptional time," said Fran Collins, CEO, Red Funnel.

09 Dec 2019

Maritime, Gaming Worlds Collide

The Azurtane vessel docking user interface will be trialled on Red Funnel’s high-speed ferry, Red Jet 7, in March 2020. Photo credit: Red Funnel

Red Funnel's Redjet 7 will serve as a bench test for an innovative vessel docking project between a maritime data company and university student game developers.Efficient vessel docking which melds traditional maritime know-how and cutting edge gaming tech is the focus of a project between Azurtane, a Southampton maritime energy efficiency firm, and the School of Media Arts and Technology at Solent University.The project seeks to leverage the skills of student game developers in a high precision kinematics (HPK)…

13 Jun 2019

Wight Shipyard Debuts Hybrid Patrol Vessel

Photo: WSC

Wight Shipyard Co (WSC)’s newbuild hybrid vessel unveiled at Seawork 2019. Setting new standards in the patrol and pilot vessels the 9m hybrid is a step change for operators including port and river authorities, police, MOD and Royal Navy who need to meet new pollution standards.Port authorities, harbor and river patrols need to keep pace with the changing environmental requirements seeking solutions and vessels that can operate zero emissions but switch easily between variable…

11 Jun 2019

BareFLEET Monitoring for Red Kestrel

Photo: Red Funnel

Reygar said that cross-Solent ferry operator, Red Funnel, is installing the BareFLEET monitoring system on Red Kestrel - Red Funnel’s first dedicated RoRo freight ferry.BareFLEET, a cloud-based monitoring platform that couples remote data collection technology with vessel performance monitoring software, is designed to enable the ferry operator to better support the Island’s freight requirements by providing data to optimize vessel performance, monitor fuel use, and cut vessel downtime.

03 Jun 2019

Cammell Laird Reveals Ro-Pax Ferry Design

Sir David Attenborough polar ship moves in Cammell Laird (Photo: Cammel Laird)

British shipyard Cammell Laird will has announced at the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo ambitious plans to disrupt the new-build ferry market with a new specially designed Ro-Pax ferry.Liverpool City Region based Cammell Laird is releasing a sneak picture preview  of the commercial sensitive design ahead of a formal launch later this year and will be briefing prospective customers on the design at its stand.Cammell Laird’s project director Andy Askham said the company believes its innovative…

02 May 2019

Empower Women in Maritime

Breaking down gender stereotypes in the maritime industry is not just important in its own right, it is also beneficial for the industry as a whole.That was one of the key messages to emerge from a special event held at International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, on International Labour Day (May 1), said the UN body.In a year when IMO is highlighting its efforts to empower women in the maritime community, a panel discussion among five high level female maritime professionals and an invited audience of IMO delegates and other maritime representatives explored issues around female representation in a traditionally male-dominated industry.Sakura Kuma (Executive Director of the Port of Yokohama)…

24 Apr 2019

Azurtane Launches New Vessel Positioning Technology

RedJet 7 high speed ferry docking (Photo: Azurtane)

Southampton marine technology firm Azurtane is developing an advanced vessel positioning system.Working in conjunction with Red Funnel, the Isle of Wight ferry company, first trials are set to begin on the ferry operator’s high-speed craft RedJet7 in late April 2019. Azurtane’s new technology will be capable of positioning vessels within 4cm of a given location, something even the most experienced seafarer would struggle to achieve.Azurtane managing director, Don Gregory, believes…

11 Apr 2019

New Ferry the Red Kestrel Completed

Red Kestrel sea trials April 2019 River Mersey - copyright Cammell Laird

Merseyside shipbuilder Cammell Laird has completed the building the $13 million ferry the Red Kestrel, for Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel.The Red Kestrel, a new freight-only RoRo vessel, sailed away from Cammell Laird’s famous River Mersey shipyard following a nine-month build program. In total the project used 45 British supply chain businesses and generated 3000 man hours of work for Cammell Laird's apprentices. Cammell Laird further employed 200 direct workers, 200 sub-contractors and 10 apprentices on the contract.The Red Kestrel will operate between Southampton and Isle of Wight.

20 Feb 2019

New Ferry for Red Funnel Floated Out

Photo: Cammell Laird

Cammell Laird recently floated out a new $13 million ferry built for Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel.Dubbed Red Kestrel, the freight-only RoRo is slated to operate between Southampton and Isle of Wight, scheduled to join the fleet in May 2019 after finish and sea trials. Red Kestrel is Red Funnel’s first ship to be designed for freight traffic. As a freight vessel it is limited to 12 passengers and builtspecifically to provide additional year-round freight capacity for Red Funnel’s Southampton-East Cowes route, which currently handles 53% of all freight movements across the Solent.

06 Feb 2019

Wight Shipyard Delivers 6th Ferry in two years

Photo: Wight Shipyard Co

Wight Shipyard Co delivered its first multi-million pound export order for a 250-passenger river catamaran to operate for Central Danube Region Marketing & Development GmbH’s Twin City Liner – a tourist service running on the River Danube between Vienna and Bratislava, joining two European capital cities.The passenger river catamaran was handed over to its new owners in an event hosted by Peter Morton, CEO of Wight Shipyard. In attendance were His Excellency Michael Zimmermann…

22 Oct 2018

Ferry Hits Yachts in Heavy Fog off Isle of Wight

A ferry collided with at least two yachts and then ran aground in heavy fog off the Isle of Wight in southern England on Sunday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.The Coastguard said a member of the public had called emergency services after hearing cries of help from Cowes Harbour, but after an extensive search by rescue teams it said no one was in the water or missing.Red Funnel, the operator of the Red Falcon Ferry, which had 56 people on board, said it had been refloated. "All passengers and vehicles have been safely discharged," it said on Twitter.(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by John Stonestreet)

28 Jun 2018

New Red Funnel Catamaran with MTU Engines Ready for Operation

Photo: Red Jet 7

UK operator Red Funnel's 40-m, 277-passenger Red Jet 7 fast ferry will enter service in July after its commissioned in June. Built in the UK by the Wight Shipyard Co.,  Rolls-Royce supplied the four MTU 10V 2000 M72 engines to power the ferry. Powered by four 900 kW MTU Series 2000 engines, Red Jet 7 has a top speed of 38 knots while also meeting the  IMO for Tier II certification.The aluminum catamaran is to join its sister ships Red Jet 6, Red Jet 4 and Red Jet 3 in plying between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

14 Jun 2018

Wight Shipyard Delivers Catamaran for Scotland

Jacobite Maverick (Photo: Wight Shipyard)

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has delivered its latest vessel to Scottish tourism operator Loch Ness by Jacobite. The new 20-meter day-cruise passenger catamaran Jacobite Maverick is joining the company’s fleet sailing between Dochgarroch, just outside Inverness, Clansman Harbour and the ruins of Urquhart Castle.Designed by Australia’s One2three Naval Architects, the hullform of the new catamaran is engineered to provide through-life efficiency with low structural weight assisting lower fuel consumption…

04 May 2018

SMS Undertakes Huge Refit for Red Funnel

Lounge Lift (Photo: SMS)

Southampton headquartered ship repairer and marine engineering services provider SMS has completed a major refit within the U.K. Port of Southampton at Williams Shipping’s specialist repair berth for the Isle of Wight operator Red Funnel.SMS has completed the build and installation of a two new 17-metric-ton aluminum passenger lounges on board the Red Eagle ferry in partnership with its sister co. the Wight Shipyard Company.Chris Norman, the Managing Director of SMS, said, “This project is a great example of our in-house capability.“Seventeen [metric ton] of aluminium…

19 Mar 2018

Kentec On-Board Red Funnel Ferries

Photo courtesy of Kentec

Kentec fire safety control panels have been chosen for the refurbishment of fire systems on the Red Funnel Ferry Group’s vehicle ferries that operate out of Southampton to the Isle of Wight. The refitting of the MV Red Osprey, following that of MV Red Falcon back in 2015, now leaves just the MV Red Eagle to be completed as part of Red Funnel Group’s multi-million pound refurbishment of its three vehicle ferries. This major project has seen the interior design and facilities of each ship replaced with a bright…

12 Feb 2018

Wight Shipyard to Build New Danube River Ferry

(Image: Incat Crowther)

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has secured an order to build a new 39-meter low wash, high-speed catamaran ferry for operation by Twin City Liner on the Danube River between Vienna and Bratislava. The new vessel is scheduled to be delivered in time for the 2019 summer season, starting at the end of March. Incat Crowther said it was selected as the designer after its staff viewed the operation on the Danube first-hand, affording a detailed understanding of the complex operational requirements.

06 Feb 2017

UK, Continental Ferries Carried 8.8 mln Cars in 2016

The number of cars taken by ferry has increased from 8.6 million in 2015 to nearly 8.8 million in 2016, a 1.7% increase. This is the fourth successive year of growth according to the annual results of the ferry industry. 2016 Ferrystat figures released today by Discover Ferries, the industry body for ferry operators, reports that growth for car travel by sea is up by 473,000 in the past four years; up from just 8.3 million car crossings by sea in 2012. Discover Ferries member ferry operators include Brittany Ferries, Caledonian MacBrayne, Condor Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, Northlink, P&O Ferries, Red Funnel, StenaLine and Wightlink.

15 Aug 2017

Voith Completes First Major Marine Overhaul at New UK Facility

1)	A Voith technician dis-assembles the Voith Schneider Propeller (Photo: Voith)

Voith Turbo, a manufacturer of a wide range of products for the marine industry, said it has completed its first major refurbishment project in a brand new U.K. facility. The complete overhaul of a 26-metric-ton Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP) has been carried out for Red Funnel, the Isle of Wight ferry company based in Southampton, at Voith’s Croydon workshop. The refurbishment follows Voith’s investment in specially designed jigs, fixtures, machinery and lifting equipment capable of handling Voith Schneider propellers, gearboxes and other ancillaries.

11 Sep 2017

Wight Shipyard Boss Buys Stake in AMC

(Photo: AMC)

Wight Shipyard Co Ltd (WSC) boss Peter Morton has purchased a stake in Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) and takes his place on the board, securing the Isle of Wight boat build business well into the future. AMC Commercial Director, Rob Stewart, said, “We are looking forward to working together, having been neighbors for some time. With a healthy order book, the future for AMC, the Isle of Wight and U.K. Stewart added that AMC will remain separate and continue to trade under the same name but will benefit from Wight Shipyards Co Ltd’s experience, backing and support going forward.

17 Oct 2017

Interferry Conference Reviews Issues with Financial Impact

The challenges and opportunities posed by alternative fuels, safety management and social media dominated Interferry’s 42nd annual conference in Split, Croatia, where a record 370 delegates shared insights on ship technologies, safety issues including cyber security and the customer experience. Attendance at last week’s conference represented 210 ferry operators and suppliers from 27 countries. Mediterranean ferry operators voiced their concerns on meeting the 0.5 percent sulphur emissions cap due in 2020. Minoan Lines managing director Antonios Maniadakis complained that using low sulphur fuel would increase costs by €2 million per year.

01 Nov 2017

New Exhaust Gas Sensor Technology Goes to Market

Azurtane technology has helped ferry company Red Funnel cut fuel consumption by up to 15 percent per day. (Photo: Azurtane)

With market testing now complete, new exhaust gas sensor technology from remote marine data monitoring company Azurtane Limited will go to market. From its new company headquarters in Southampton, Azurtane will market sensor technology for ships developed with support by the UK government under the Innovate UK program. Azurtane began trialing its exhaust gas sensing equipment with Southampton-based ferry company Red Funnel in 2013. The project involved second-by-second measurement of the fuel used on each voyage of the Red Jet 4 Hi-Speed ferry service between Southampton and Cowes.

12 Oct 2016

UK’s Wight Shipyard to Build Two Fast Ferries

Photo: Wight Shipyard Co

The largest fast passenger ferry order for a U.K. shipyard in over 25 years has been confirmed by MBNA Thames Clippers. Two new 170 capacity passenger boats will be built at the Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight, and will join London’s growing river transport network in summer 2017. Representing an investment worth over £6.3 million, the order will see the creation of 75 new jobs across the Isle of Wight and London, and the involvement of over 100 businesses in the South of England as part of the delivery supply chain.