MV Red Jet 6 is a high-speed catamaran ferry constructed for Red Funnel in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight as the sixth member of the company's Red Jet line of catamarans.

Red Jet 6 crossing The Solent
History
United Kingdom
NameRed Jet 6
Operator Red Funnel
Ordered2015
BuilderWight Shipyard
LaunchedMay 2016
In serviceJuly 2016
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes
General characteristics
Class & typeCatamaran ferry
Tonnage363 GT
Length41.12 m (134 ft 11 in)
Beam10.87 m (35 ft 8 in)
Draught1.30 m (4 ft 3 in)
Propulsion4 × MTU 10V 2000 M72, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each, driving MJP500 waterjets
Speed42 knots (78 km/h; 48 mph) max
Capacity275
Crewmax 4

Red Funnel announced in May 2015 that they had placed an order for the £6 million vessel with Wight Shipyard of East Cowes, making Red Jet 6 the first high-speed ferry built in the United Kingdom in 15 years. Red Jet 6 was constructed in East Cowes's former aircraft hangar, originally built for the Saunders-Roe aircraft company. She entered service in mid 2016.[1]

Red Jet 6 is 41.12 metres (134 ft 11 in) long, with a passenger capacity of 275. She is powered by four MTU series 2000 diesel engines, each powering a waterjet for propulsion and steering giving a service speed of 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph), allowing a crossing time of 23 minutes. She can operate with one engine out with only a minor reduction in speed.[1][2]

Red Jet 6 was named by Anne, Princess Royal at a ceremony at East Cowes on 4 July 2016.[3] On 29 June 2017, Red Jet 6 set a new record for the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight by multihulls, starting and finishing at the Royal Yacht Squadron starting line at Cowes, taking 1 hr, 17 mins, 17 secs at an average speed of 39.42 knots (73.01 km/h; 45.36 mph).[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Red Funnel reveals plan for Red Jet 6 — to be built on the Isle of Wight". Isle of Wight County Press. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Royal naming for new Red Jet 6 passenger ferry". BBC News. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Red Funnel's Red Jet 6 sets Isle of Wight round-the-island record". Southern Daily Echo. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
edit