UK ferry operator to invest £2. 2 million to upgrade ferry's interior
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries is to invest £2.2 million to refurbish its ro-pax ferry Red Osprey, which operates between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
The investment follows a record-breaking year for Red Funnel, which recorded a 15% rise in traffic levels over the main summer holiday period this year. Scheduled to start in January 2015, the refit will be carried out by Southampton-base marine interior firm Trimline, which will be supported by other local suppliers.
When she re-enters service in Easter 2015, Red Osprey will offer many of the new features found onboard Red Falcon, which re-entered service in April 2014 after undergoing a major upgrade. These include 55% more interior seating, a contemporary interior design, air conditioning throughout the ship and a complimentary high-bandwidth wifi network in all passenger areas. Additional features will be designed based on operational needs and customer feedback.
“We are delighted to announce this new tranche of investment following such positive feedback received from the customers who have travelled on Red Falcon since April,” said Kevin George, CEO of Red Funnel. “The traffic figures for this year are very gratifying in that more and more customers are choosing Red Funnel for great service at competitive prices. The refurbishment of Red Osprey further underpins our commitment to the Isle of Wight as we work with partners and stakeholders to help grow the island’s economy.”
Deck B, which is Red Osprey’s main passenger deck, will be transformed with a combination of airline-style seats with tray backs, dining tables for different sized groups and nested table and chairs in the bar area. New screens will display live TV, news headlines, travel information and points of interest along the route, while the seating areas will also feature charging points for phones and laptops.
In addition, the deck’s galley will be refitted and serve a new food and beverage menu, featuring Red Funnel’s signature English breakfast, made with locally sourced ingredients.
ReFuel will offer free tea and coffee refills, while two Steam Café Bars will serve a full range of premium coffees and cakes. The bar will be stocked with premium draft and bottled beers, champagne, wines and spirits, while a new onboard shop will sell gifts and souvenirs from the Isle of Wight, as well as Red Funnel-branded merchandise. Customers will also be able to obtain visitor information and make or amend ferry bookings onboard, as well as purchase event and attraction tickets during the crossing.
Meanwhile, two modern passenger lounges will be installed on the upper A Deck, leading out to an open-air, wheelchair-accessible promenade deck. Each air-conditioned lounge will have its own Steam Café Bar serving hot and cold food, with free wifi access, charging points, separate toilet facilities and an elevator. One of the lounges will be a designated pet area.
Accessible from A Deck, the new fore and aft sun decks will feature teak-style seating.