A high-speed ferry operator leader looks ahead

This article first appeared in the Spring/Summer 2015 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats

From an experimental 11-seater ‘sea coach’ in the 1930s, to hovercraft in the 1960s, to a 20-year hydrofoil service and today’s catamarans, Red Funnel has a long history of operating high-speed craft between the UK port of Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. While the company’s first forays into the high-speed market were brief, particularly during the hovercraft era, the introduction of the hydrofoil vessels in the 1970s paved the way for the company’s current high-speed, passenger-only Red Jet service.

“After operating the first high-speed service between 1934 and 1938 and trialling hovercraft, Red Funnel turned to hydrofoils,” explains Kevin George. “Hydrofoils successfully provided high-speed passenger services until the 1990s, when Red Funnel debuted catamarans similar to the three we operate today.”

Red Funnel’s three current high-speed ferries – the 170-guest Red Jet 3, the 275-passenger Red Jet 4 and the 187-guest Red Jet 5 – transport more than one million passengers on a total of 23,700 voyages per year. The catamarans, which offer 30-minute departures during peak times and hourly crossings throughout the day, are particularly popular with foot passengers.

“Fundamentally, passengers want a convenient and reliable service that can transport them to destinations as quickly as possible,” says George. “Our vehicle ferry crossings last 55-60 minutes, while the high-speed journeys take 25 minutes. This makes the Red Jet fleet ideal for business professionals and season ticket holders who commute between Cowes and Southampton on a daily basis.”

He notes that tourists also favour the Red Jet vessels. “Many day-trippers and holidaymakers travel without their cars and want to spend as much time as possible exploring the Isle of Wight’s attractions, so they opt for the high-speed service,” he says. “However, as our Red Jet catamarans only sail to West Cowes, tourists wanting to go to East Cowes will use the vehicle ferries – they simply choose whichever service gets them closest to their final destination.”

Passengers can also expect different onboard experiences from the two types of ferries.

“The 25-minute Red Jet crossings are only long enough to offer a basic drinks service. However, the hour-long crossings on the vehicle ferries enable us to provide a full catering service and other amenities. For example, Red Falcon was refurbished in 2014 with three catered lounges featuring Steam Company café bars offering various beverages, snacks and full meals.”

Buoyed by the popularity and success of the Red Jet service, Red Funnel plans to continue improving its high-speed ferries in the near future.

“Although the Red Jet ferries consume more fuel than our car ferries, because they operate at a speed of 33.5 knots and burn it for half the time, they are just as cost-effective,” George says. “However, Red Jet 5 is less fuel-efficient than the rest of the high-speed fleet, so we plan to replace her with a ferry of a similar size to Red Jet 4. We are considering options to convert an existing ferry, or construct a newbuild.”

In late 2016, Red Funnel will also relocate its two separate ferry terminals – situated 200 yards apart – into one facility in Southampton. George says: “Not only will moving into the combined terminal provide customers with easy access to the service they want, it will inevitably improve our overall operational efficiency.”