First water entrance for GB£7 Red Jet 7

The vessel was ordered from Wight Shipyard on the Isle of Wight in August 2017, following an international tender. The new 275 seat Red Jet is a sister ship to Red Jet 6, which was also built by Wight Shipyard in 2016.

The final fit out and commissioning of onboard systems will take place with the vessel alongside at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight and will be followed by extensive sea trials and crew training in the Solent.

Red Jet 7 will be named at a ceremony at Trinity Parade in Cowes on 24 July and will enter regular service between Southampton and West Cowes thereafter.

Wight Shipyard told Maritime Journal last month that work on the vessel is well on track with the passenger accommodation already resiliently mounted on the two hulls and the specialist job of installing the four engines, generators and waterjets almost complete. The bridge was also said to be taking shape with most of the electronic equipment, control systems and touch screens now in situ and ready for testing.

By Rebecca Jeffrey