By
Elizabeth Robinson |
The construction project for Red Funnel’s new ferry, Red Jet 7, is progressing ahead of schedule at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK.
The shell plating on the twin aluminium catamaran hulls is complete and welding work is underway in the hull void spaces, bulkheads and double bottoms. Following this, the fuel and water tanks will be ready for installation.
As with her sister ship Red Jet 6, the new vessel’s superstructure and hulls will be built separately. The jig that will be used as a base to build the superstructure has already been laid in the building hall and prefabrication processes are underway. When complete, the passenger cabin will be lifted onto the hull and mounted on shock-absorbing resilient mounts to provide maximum passenger comfort.
“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, Red Funnel’s CEO. “We expect the sea trials and crew training to commence in June 2018 ahead of her official naming ceremony in Cowes 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.