VIDEO: The build of Red Funnel’s new hi-speed Red Jet vessel, Red Jet 6, is well underway in East Cowes’ iconic Columbine Building.
The big union jack doors hide away the work taking place by Shemara Refit LLP to build the cross-Solent operator’s new £6million Red Jet, the first vessel of its kind to be built in the UK in over 15 years.
Red Jet 6 will be Red Funnel’s largest and most innovative high-speed vessel yet, offering ground breaking levels of passenger comfort, reliability and safety. She will also be the greenest ship in Red Funnel’s fleet with a host of design features to reduce running costs and protect the environment in line with the company’s ISO 1400:1 accreditation.
The aluminium hull will be similar in design to Red Jet 4’s but to improve efficiency Red Jet 6 will be slightly longer at 41.12m. The passenger accommodation will be insulated from the hulls to reduce vibration and cabin noise. Like her sisters, Red Jet 6 will use waterjets rather than propellers to aid manoeuvrability and provide impressive stopping power whilst keeping wash to an absolute minimum.
In a break with tradition, Red Jet 6 will be fitted with four main engines rather than two. Each MTU 2000 series diesel will power a separate MJP 500 waterjet unit. This configuration will help reduce running costs, provide high levels of in-service reliability and ensure emissions comply with IMO Tier II regulations. Other technical innovations to help reduce running costs include the use of vinyl instead of paint for the superstructure to reduce weight and the application of the latest Teflon hull coatings to minimise drag through the water.
Red Jet 6 will have capacity for 275 passengers who will experience a quiet, spacious and well-lit cabin fitted with leather seats and a sophisticated air-handling system designed to dry, cool or warm the air automatically. For the first time there will also be an on board toilet for customers to use during the 25 minute crossing. A new high bandwidth ship-to-shore Wi-Fi system has been specified which will be free for customers and the latest travel information system will be installed to show connecting services for buses, coaches, trains and flights in real-time.
Kevin George, Red Funnel’s CEO commented:
“It is extremely gratifying to see that the build is both on schedule and on budget and the quality of work, particularly the welding is amongst the best we’ve seen from anywhere in the world. This demonstrates the type of specialist shipbuilding skills which are available on the Isle of Wight and underlines why we chose Shemara Refit LLP to build Red Jet 6.”
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Red Jet 6, which is anticipated to run on the West Cowes-Southampton route for up to 25 years, will be named in Cowes at a prestigious ceremony on 4th July 2016 and will enter service later that month. Once in service, Red Jet 5 will be removed from the fleet to leave Red Jets 3, 4 and 6.
Time lapse Video:
