By
Rebecca Gibson |
Red Funnel’s new high-speed passenger ferry Red Jet 7 is to be floated out of dry dock for the first time at the end of May 2018.
The £7 million (US$9.4 million) newbuild is quickly taking shape at Wight Shipyard Co’s yard in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK. The shipyard has already mounted the passenger cabin on the ferry’s two hulls and has almost finished installing the generators, four main MTU 2000 series diesel engines and Hamilton DRP-500QD waterjet units. Together, these systems will decrease fuel consumption and ensure emissions meet International Maritime Organization Tier II regulations, making Red Jet 7 one of the greenest ships in Red Funnel’s fleet. Meanwhile, the use of waterjets rather than propellers will aid manoeuvrability and improve stopping power.
Wight Shipyard Co has also installed most of the electronic equipment, control systems and touchscreens in the bridge ready for testing. A specialist Isle of Wight-based contractor will soon start wrapping the ferry’s superstructure with Red Funnel’s livery, which will be done in vinyl rather than paint to minimise drag through the water and lower fuel consumption.
Following her launch ceremony, Red Jet 7 will remain at Wight Shipyard while the team commissions her onboard equipment and systems. The vessel will then undergo sea trials towards the end of June, ahead of her official christening in July.
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. Red Jet 7 will increase passenger capacity by 51% which means the high-speed service can carry up to 825 passengers per hour in each direction at peak times of the year.