Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

9 2 INTERV IEW Leading the way Red Funnel CEO Fran Collins tells Justin Merrigan about the operator’s response to Covid-19 and its new measures to safeguard passengers and staff R ed Funnel has served Britain’s Isle of Wight for nearly 160 years and it is fair to say the Covid-19 pandemic has been one of the, if not the, largest challenges faced by the business in recent years. Undaunted, it has remained in operation to provide a vital lifeline ferry service between the island and mainland UK, continuously ensuring that its travel guidance reflects the most current UK Government recommendations and taking all steps to minimise the spread of the infection. CEO Fran Collins says that as soon as the true scale of Covid-19 became apparent, Red Funnel worked with the Isle of Wight Council and other operators to identify a minimum island lifeline service requirement and reduced its services to support this. “At the peak of lockdown car travel was down to just 5 per cent of normal levels and foot passengers at 2 per cent with only essential workers and medical travel being permitted,” she says. “Freight was also severely affected.” The reduction in services ensured Red Funnel would have staff available to crew vessels and run operations in the event of high levels of sickness, while ensuring costs were kept to a minimum. “One of the toughest decisions we had to take was to temporarily suspend our Hi-Speed Red Jet foot passenger service which operates between West Cowes and Southampton,” says Collins. “We kept “We’ll still be supporting the Solent for many years to come” Photo: Justin Merrigan