Red Funnel has confirmed that it is bringing fast ferry construction back to the UK with the announcement that its new passenger ferry 'Red Jet 6' will be built in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
After receiving tenders from shipyards around the world, the company has placed an order for a 40-metre high-speed catamaran with Shemara Refit LLP for delivery in 2016. Costing £6 million (US$9 million), 'Red Jet 6' will be the first vessel of her kind to be built in the UK for 15 years.
The aluminium hull will be similar in design to 'Red Jet 4's' but to improve efficiency 'Red Jet 6' will be slightly longer at 41.12 metres. The passenger accommodation will be insulated from the hulls to reduce vibration and cabin noise. Like her sisters, 'Red Jet 6' will use waterjets rather than propellers to aid manoeuvrability and provide impressive stopping power whilst keeping wash to an absolute minimum.
In a break with tradition, she will be fitted with four main engines rather than two. Each MTU 2000 series diesel will power a separate MJP 500 waterjet unit. This configuration will help reduce fuel consumption, provide high levels of in-service reliability and ensure emissions comply with the IMO Tier II regulations.
Other technical innovations to help reduce fuel consumption include the use of vinyl instead of paint for the superstructure to reduce weight and the application of the latest Teflon hull coatings to minimise drag through the water.
'Red Jet 6' will be configured to carry 275 passengers, who will experience a quiet, spacious and well-lit cabin fitted with leather seats and a sophisticated air-handling system designed to dry, cool or warm the air automatically. A new high bandwidth ship-to-shore Wi-Fi system has been specified which will be free for customers and the latest travel information system will be installed to show connecting services for buses, coaches, trains and flights in real-time. Provision has also been made to carry 22 bicycles.
Photo: Brian Burnell
