Red Jet 4 travelling towards Cowes | |
History | |
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Name | MV Red Jet 4 |
Operator | ![]() |
Builder | North West Bay Ships |
Yard number | 06 |
Laid down | 2002 |
Launched | 20 February 2003 [1] |
In service | 23 June 2003 |
Identification |
|
Status | Sold |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Catamaran ferry |
Tonnage | 120 GT |
Length | 39.82 m (130.6 ft) |
Beam | 10.82 m (35.5 ft) |
Draught | 1.26 m (4.1 ft) |
Propulsion | 2 x MJP 650R-DD waterjets |
Speed | 38.1 knots (70.6 km/h; 43.8 mph) (increasing to 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) when lightly loaded) [1] |
Capacity | 275 |
Crew | max 6 |
MV Red Jet 4 is a passenger catamaran ferry operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, along with sister ships Red Jet 6 and Red Jet 7 .
She was built by North West Bay Ships in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. [1] After her launch on 20 February 2003 the catamaran was placed aboard a heavy lift ship to be transported to Southampton which arrived on 9 May 2003. [1] She was officially named by Dame Ellen MacArthur on 18 June 2003 and entered service five days later. [1] During those 5 days the ship was used for a number of excursions including following the Round the Island Race. [1]
On 11 November 2008 Red Jet 4 was used on a number of sightseeing trips to view Queen Elizabeth 2 before it left Southampton for the final time. [2]
In March 2024 Red funnel announced that Red Jet 4 had been withdrawn from service stating it was due to declining passenger numbers. [3] In May 2024 Red Jet 4 was sold to the South Korean ferry operator Namhae Express Co. [4] In late May 2024 the ship left Southampton aboard the ship AAL Kobe. [5]
On 5 November 2016, while passing Fawley en route to Cowes, Red Jet 4 was in a sidelong collision with a man riding a jet ski. The man was uninjured and was picked up by a companion on another machine. Red Jet 4 circled to make sure the rescue was successful before continuing on its course. [6]
Red Jet 4 is featured in the 2008 video game Ship Simulator 2008 with the MV Red Eagle as a sailable ship, as well as featuring in Ship Simulator Extremes. [7]
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floating Bridge, a chain ferry.
Red Funnel, the trading name of the Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, is a ferry company that carries passengers, vehicles and freight on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. High-speed foot passenger catamarans, known as Red Jets, run between Southampton and Cowes, while vehicle ferries run between Southampton and East Cowes. It also runs the ferry between Southampton and Hythe.
MV Balmoral is a vintage excursion ship owned by MV Balmoral Fund Ltd., a preservation charity. Her principal area of operation is the Bristol Channel, although she also operates day excursions to other parts of the United Kingdom. The Balmoral is included on the National Historic Ships register as part of the National Historic Fleet.
There are currently three different ferry companies that operate vessels carrying passengers and, on certain routes, vehicles across the Solent, the stretch of sea that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England. These are Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.
MV Red Eagle is a Raptor-class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The largest of its class, Red Eagle is the current flagship for Red Funnel.
MV Red Osprey is a Raptor Class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow.
MV Red Falcon is a vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. It was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow.
MV Schiopparello Jet is a passenger catamaran ferry, formerly known as Bo Hengy and Red Jet 5. She operates on routes from Piombino to the Tuscan archipelago on behalf of ferry operator Toremar. She was built in 1999.
MV Red Jet 3 is a passenger catamaran ferry formerly operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to Cowes on the Isle of Wight along with sister ships Red Jet 4, Red Jet 5 and Red Jet 6. She was built by FB Marine on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom at a cost of £2.73 million and entered service in 1998. The ship reached a speed of 37.4 knots during a publicity cruise on 14 July 1998 before entering into regular service on 27 July 1998. This entry into service meant that the older Shearwater 5 and Shearwater 6 hydrofoils were no longer needed to provide backup for the Red Funnel high speed service and they were withdrawn. The high speed fleet then consisted of Red Jet 1, Red Jet 2 and Red Jet 3.
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.
Sis is a car / passenger ferry owned and operated by Jadrolinija in Croatia, where she operates between Zadar and the island of Ugljan. The vessel was previously known as Netley Castle when operated by Red Funnel on services to the Isle of Wight in the UK.
PS Victoria was a passenger vessel built for the London and South Western Railway and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1881.
MV Red Jet 7 is a British high speed catamaran ferry operated by Red Funnel on its Southampton-Cowes route. It was launched on 6 June 2018 and entered service on 24 July
MV Red Kestrel is a freight ferry built by Cammell Laird for Red Funnel for use on its Southampton to East Cowes service. She was launched on 19 February 2019 and entered service in May 2019 after completing her sea trials.
Red Jet 1 was a high speed catamaran passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. She was built by FB Marine in 1991 and was the first waterjet propelled craft to operate on the route.
Red Jet 2 was a high speed catamaran passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. She was built by FB Marine in 1991. She is identical to her sister ship, Red Jet 1.
MV Norris Castle, the third vessel in the Red Funnel fleet to carry the name, was built in 1968 by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Woolston and operated as a car ferry between Southampton and East Cowes until 1994. Mrs Joan Lacon, owner of the namesake building, Norris Castle, named the ship. Originally designed to load and discharge through the bows, in 1976, she was converted to drive through operation, with mezzanine decks and an extended superstructure, by Boele in Rotterdam. As built, she was 191 feet 3 inches (58.29 m) long with a capacity of 734 GT. After rebuilding she was extended to 221 feet 2 inches (67.41 m) and 999 GT.
MV Cowes Castle was a car ferry operated by Red Funnel between Southampton and Cowes/East Cowes. Subsequently, sold to Jadrolinija in 1994 for further service in Croatia. She was scrapped in 2008.