MV Red Falcon

History
Name: MV Red Falcon
Operator: Red Funnel
Builder: Ferguson Shipbuilders
Launched: 1994
In service: Apr 1994 - Dec 2003, Apr 2004 - Feb 2014[1] Apr 2014 -
Identification: IMO number: 9064047
Status: Active
General characteristics
Class and type: Car Passenger Ferry
Tonnage: 3,953 GT[1]
Length: 93.22 m (305.8 ft)
Beam: 17.5 m (57.4 ft)
Decks: 5, including 3 vehicle decks
Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity: 895 passengers, 220 cars
Red Falcon's B-Deck, Pre-2014 Refit.

MV Red Falcon 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.

She first entered service in 1994, being bought new by Red Funnel along with sister ship Red Osprey and as such, has operated the same regular route throughout her life. Between January and March 2004 she underwent modifications by Remontowa in Gdańsk, Poland, in order to increase vehicle capacity by 80[2] and allow a greater passenger capacity.[3] This involved the lengthening of the ship by 9.6 m (31 ft).[4]

Events

On 10 March 2006 the ship made national headlines when she collided with the linkspan in Southampton, causing significant damage to the ferry's 'Southampton Side' Bow doors.[5] Vehicles, including an Ambulance carrying a patient (Who was evacuated by dinghy) had to remain onboard for over eight hours while engineers forced the door open.

On 11 November 2008 she was used on an excursion to view Queen Elizabeth 2 leaving Southampton for the final time.[6]

2014 Refit

From February to April 2014, Red Falcon was in a drydock at Portsmouth for a major refit costing over £2 million. The refit provides an extra level of passenger accommodation with 55% more seating. The environmental footprint of the vessel was also reduced by installing LED lighting, and recycling facilities.[7] A pair of webcams on top of the ship's bridge were also replaced, and provide footage of the ferry's journey.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries - Vessel Archive 1981-2010". Red Funnel. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  2. ↑ "Maritime Journal: Linkspan Lifts Red Funnel's Fortunes". www.maritimejournal.com. 2005-02-01. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Red Funnel - vehicle ferry fleet". www.redfunnel.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  4. ↑ "Red Funnel plans to stretch car ferries" (PDF). Black Jack. World Ship Society, Southampton branch (123): 10. December 2002. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  5. ↑ "BBC News - "Investigators examine ferry crash"". www.bbc.co.uk. 2006-03-11. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  6. ↑ Adams, Keith (2010). Red Funnel 150 Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of The Original Isle of Wight Ferries. Richard Danielson. p. 51. ISBN 9780951315552.
  7. ↑ Red Falcon Refit, Red Funnel
  8. ↑ Live webcam pictures from Red Falcon, Red Funnel
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