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
NameMV Red Jet 6
Operator Red Funnel
Ordered2015
BuilderWight Shipyard
LaunchedMay 2016
In serviceJuly 2016
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes
General characteristics
Class and typeCatamaran ferry
Tonnage363 GT
Length41.12 m (134.9 ft)
Beam10.87 m (35.7 ft)
Draught1.30 m (4.3 ft)
Propulsion4 x MTU 10V 2000 M72 (1200hp ea) driving MJP500 water jets
Speed
  • Max 42 knots (78 km/h; 48 mph)
  • Service 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph)
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 UK 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 the summer of 2016.[1]

Red Jet 6 is 41.12 metres (134.9 ft) 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 (44 mph; 70 km/h), 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 the 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 1hr, 17mins, 17secs at an average speed of 39.42 knots (73.01 km/h; 45.36 mph).[4]

References

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  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.
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