Red Jet 7 ferry progress ahead of schedule
The construction of Red Funnel’s new £7m high-speed passenger ferry is rapidly taking shape at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight.
The 41-metre Red Jet 7 ferry, which has been designed to increase passenger capacity by 51% is expected to enter the water in May 2018.
“We are delighted the construction of Red Jet 7 is progressing so well which is testimony to the highly skilled workforce at Wight Shipyard,” said Kevin George, CEO, Red Funnel.
He added that he expects the sea trials and crew training to commence in June 2018 ahead of the vessel’s official naming ceremony in Cowes in July.
Taking shape
The shell plating on the twin hulls is complete and welding work is underway in the hull void spaces, bulkheads and double bottoms. Once complete, the fuel and water tanks will be ready for installation.
As with Red Jet 6, the new vessel’s superstructure and hulls are completed separately. The jig upon which the superstructure is built has now been laid in the building hall and prefabrication is underway.
When complete, the passenger cabin will be lifted onto the hull and mounted on shock-absorbing resilient mounts to provide maximum passenger comfort.
Once named, Red Jet 7 will join sister ship Red Jet 6 and the Australian built Red Jet 4 on Red Funnel’s flagship Southampton-West Cowes route.
It will be able to carry up to 825 passengers per hour in each direction at peak times of the year, significantly more than either of the cross-Solent routes currently servicing the Island.
By Anne-Marie Causer
