As a solution to easing capacity on the vehicle ferries, on 14th February 2018 the Isle of Wight’s first purpose-built freight-only ferry was ordered from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead, Merseyside. Simply click below to subscribe and not only read the full article instantly, but gain unparalleled access to the specialist magazine for shipping enthusiasts. Red Funnel, formally 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 … Topic. Red Kestrel. However, passenger seating on the 3 ferries is already at a premium on a full mixed-traffic sailing during inclement weather, with extra bench seating etc. In total, the project used 45 British supply chain … Red Kestrel is due to enter service in May 2019, with the current ferry timetable to be updated to accommodate the vessel. Red Funnel's £10 million order for the new ship was announced on 14 February 2018. Red Funnel is celebrating the first year of service for Red Kestrel, its dedicated freight-only ferry, as she reaches the 12-month anniversary of her official naming ceremony. [9][10][11], Media related to IMO 9847645 at Wikimedia Commons, "Red Funnel Places Order For New £10Million Freight Ferry", "Keel laid for Red Funnels' new roro vessel in traditional ceremony", "Red Funnel's first freight ship named at keel laying ceremony", "Cammell Laird launches newly-built £10m vessel onto the Mersey", "Red Funnel's new vessel is on her way to Southampton", "RED FUNNEL'S NEW FREIGHT FERRY OFFICIALLY WELCOMED INTO THE FLEET", "Cammel Laird stages "float-off" for new £10m ferry for Red Funnel", "Red Kestrel Enters Service | Red Funnel", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MV_Red_Kestrel&oldid=992768251, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 December 2020, at 00:14. Tomorrow marks the first year anniversary of the naming ceremony for Red Kestrel, our very first freight-only ferry. A new Board of Directors was formed and on 10th September 1861 the Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. was born. The new freight-only Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off) vessel last week departed Cammell Laird’s famous River Mersey shipyard on a delivery voyage bound for the English Channel port. The passenger spaces on the ships were not increased so new enclosed A-Deck lounges were fitted, with AA-Deck sundecks above, on the Red Falcon/Osprey in 2014/2015. The new 2,881gt Raptor Class ferries were 82.4m long with capacity for 895 passengers and 140 cars. Kestrel has been a huge help in maintaining our lifeline service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and keeping vital goods moving to and from the Island. As reported by Isle of Wight Radio, the £10million Red Kestrel – which will sail between Southampton and East … The April 2019 fleets consisted of nine vehicle ferries, five passenger catamarans and two hovercraft with all but four of these being built in the 2000s following huge investment by the companies. The Isle of Wight enjoys an intensive cross-Solent ferry service operated by three companies, Wightlink, Hovertravel and Red Funnel. Freight ferry built by Cammell Laird for Red Funnel for use on their route from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. cargo vessel Vessel … The 12-knot trio also received modified propulsion packages. To maintain the 3-ship service during the rebuilds, the 1975 built Norwegian fjord ferry Nordhordland was purchased from HSD and renamed Bergen Castle. Red Funnel retains the company’s original and famous house flag as derived in 1861 from the names of the first four steamers in the newly merged fleet, the Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby and Pearl. New British-built Isle of Wight Freight Ferry Prepares for Delivery Voyage. The 67m long ships could then each carry 900 passengers and 30 cars at a speed of 12-14 knots. Edit Datasheet Show Full Datasheet Last Update: 27 Apr 2019, 23:35:13 UTC The following users contributed to this datasheet: JackDryden, LTF48, Generic Vessel data. Photos of RED KESTREL (MMSI: 232019192) Browse and rate photos uploaded by our community. The company’s first purpose-built vehicle ferry arrived in 1959 in the form of the John I. Thornycroft built Carisbrooke Castle (672gt/58.27m/673 pax/25 cars) and was withdrawn in 1974. She operated 1947-1962. Merseyside shipbuilder Cammell Laird has completed the building of its 1393rd vessel the £10million ferry the Red Kestrel, for Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel. A slightly larger sister (extended passenger lounge and raised wheelhouse to compensate visibility-wise, plus an upper deck bar lounge), the Red Eagle, was delivered in 1996. In a first for the cross-Solent routes, Red Funnel took delivery of the very first freight-only ferry in April 2019. The overall history of the company goes further back, to 1820, when George Ward and William Fitzhugh of Cowes established the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the first steamer service between Cowes and Southampton. The Red Kestrel, a new freight-only RoRo vessel, sailed away from Cammell Laird’s famous River Mersey shipyard following a nine-month build programme. Category. In 2003-2004 the ‘Falcon and ‘Osprey went to Gdansk, Poland, in turn to be lengthened and to receive a new fixed upper car deck. The specialist magazine for shipping enthusiasts, Swift, New Build of the Month – January 2021, Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa – December 2020, Emmaya and Seacat Weatherly – November 2020. [7], The vessel was officially named in a ceremony on 25 April 2019, attended by Alok Sharma, Minister of State for Employment. Some of Red Funnel’s Masters and a technical team visited the Western Ferries vessels on the River Clyde prior to the Red Kestrel being launched. The April 2019 fleets consisted of nine vehicle ferries, five passenger catamarans and two hovercraft with all but four of these being built in the 2000s following huge investment by the companies. The £10m freight ferry, Red Kestrel, has been completed by Merseyside shipbuilder, Cammell Laird. The name of Red Funnel’s brand new £10million freight ferry has been revealed today (Thursday) following a special keel laying ceremony in Birkenhead. The completion of the £10million Red Kestrel for Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel has sent a strong message to the global maritime industry about Cammell Laird’s ferry building capabilities, according to the Merseyside shipbuilder’s Chief Operating Officer Tony Graham. Many such ships would anchor in Cowes Roads and use these steamers for alighting passengers and transferring all kinds of cargo. Cammell Laird is one of the most famous names in British industry and was founded in 1828 by Scottish entrepreneur William Laird and his son John. Hopefully the Signature Class lounge will remain as, in the Writer’s experienced opinion, the £10 upgrade per crossing is worth every penny, especially on peak sailings. The vessel remained a one-off and was sold to Jaroldlinja of Croatia in 1997 following withdrawal in 1996. No UK yard could cater for Wightlink’s 2018 newbuild Victoria of Wight (Turkish yard Cemre built her) so the order on home soil came as a crowd pleaser, as had the building of the Red Jet 6 and Red Jet 7 at Wight Shipyard, East Cowes. You call your ferry Red Kestrel and another bird comes along and craps all over your nice paintwork. The ship is designed to provide additional capacity for freight moving to and from East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Information will be published after a short review. Twenty years then passed until the next new tonnage with the Clyde-built Red Falcon and Red Osprey arriving in the March and October of 1994. A third rival on the route then persuaded the two established operators to join forces. Many notable Royal Navy ships have come from Cammell Laird with merchant navy products including the 1838 built Robert F. Stockton (the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic), the Cunard White Star passenger liner Mauretania and smaller ferries such as Western Ferries’ 2013 built Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay. Red Kestrel is due to enter service in May 2019, with the current ferry timetable to be updated to accommodate the vessel. The … The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited (better known as Red Funnel Ferries Limited) was formed in 1861 and proudly states that it is the original operator to the Isle of Wight and has a distinguished and colourful history that now spans 158 years. The 736gt/58.27m/673 pax/25 car capacity Osborne Castle arrived in 1962, replacing the Norris Castle (II) and served the route until 1978. To travel on her was a unique experience and she served the route during the conversion of the Red Falcon/Osprey only and was then sold. She could carry 86 cars and 900 passengers. The company’s Birkenhead site expands across 130 acres and includes four dry docks, a large modular construction hall and extensive covered workshops. Red Funnel’s new CEO has hinted that a review of the passenger spaces will be necessary to ensure the optimum balance is achieved. The Red Kestrel, a new freight-only RoRo vessel, sailed away from Cammell Laird’s famous River Mersey shipyard following a nine-month build programme. A NEW £10 million freight ferry for the Solent has been launched. The ‘Eagle was completed in 2018 with her works including a club-class style (and highly recommended!) As a freight vessel she is limited to 12 passengers and constructed specifically to provide additional year-round freight capacity for Red Funnel’s Southampton-East Cowes route, which currently handles 53% of all freight movements across the Solent. Red Funnel's Red Kestrel is the focus of our newbuild feature. Photo 2: typical! It is also at the centre of a marine and engineering cluster with easy access to support services, classification societies and port state authorities. She continues there in service as the Sis. Their third UK built ferry since 2016, the RoRo ferry received the name Red Kestrel. At 74m in length, she will provide 265 lane metres of roll-on/roll-off freight capacity and will carry up to 12 passengers. The base of the old funnel on both ships was converted into an upper level sun deck. The Isle of Wight enjoys an intensive cross-Solent ferry service operated by three companies, Wightlink, Hovertravel and Red Funnel. Filter the results based on the photo properties. Red Funnel's £10 million order for the new ship was announced on 14 February 2018. For monthly International Fleet Review, explore Warships IFR. RED KESTREL. Get updates on what’s in Shipping T&Y straight to your inbox! MV Red Osprey. The latter factor will also help turnarounds at peak times as Tugmaster movements can delay embarkation to the main deck. The introduction and operation of Red Kestrel was intended to increase freight capacity on the busy Southampton to East Cowes route, while increasing space for passengers aboard the existing Raptor-class fleet with a predicted increase in HGVs exclusively being transported by Red Kestrel. MV Red Kestrel is a freight ferry built by Cammell Laird for Red Funnel for use on its Southampton to East Cowes service. Name. The last vessel built had around 50% less superstructure (likewise passenger capacity) to give her a larger open vehicle deck and thus a greater freight capacity. Raptor Class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red … We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Red Kestrel by Andrew Cooke. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Share. [5] The vessel departed the Mersey for Southampton on 11 April 2019,[6] arriving on 18 April 2019. The sunken historic Auckland ferry Kestrel has been lifted off the seafloor. The colours are explained as: Blue to the mast, Green to fly, Red on deck, White on high. An important part of the Red Funnel route across the Solent which handles over half of the island’s commercial vehicles, Red Kestrel has made over 1,300 journeys since her first day … The company has built more than 1350 ships including many famous and innovative vessels. 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