MV Red Falcon

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.

"Red Falcon" redirects here. For the fictional terrorist organisation, see Contra (series). For the Super Sentai character, see Choujuu Sentai Liveman.

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: Raptor Class 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: 892 passengers, 220 cars[2]

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[3] and allow a greater passenger capacity.[4] This involved the lengthening of the ship by 9.6 m (31 ft).[5]

2014 refit
Red Falcon's B-Deck, Pre-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.[6] A pair of webcams on top of the ship's bridge were also replaced, and provide footage of the ferry's journey.[7]

Events

On 10 March 2006, Red Falcon collided with the linkspan in Southampton, causing significant damage to the ferry's 'Southampton Side' bow doors. Vehicles, including an ambulance carrying a patient (evacuated by dinghy) had to remain onboard for over eight hours while engineers forced the door open.[8] On 11 November 2008, the Red Falcon was used on an excursion to view Queen Elizabeth 2 leaving Southampton for the final time.[9]

On 29 September 2018 the ferry collided with a 31 ft (9.4 m) motor yacht while approaching East Cowes, injuring two people on the yacht but sustaining no damage herself. Both vessels were travelling from Southampton to Cowes.[10]

On 21 October 2018, the ferry collided with several yachts, sinking one named Greylag, and ran aground on the Isle of Wight while trying to berth at East Cowes. A search and rescue mission was started after people nearby heard 'voices from the water', but this was called off after the voices were attributed to people on a nearby boat calling to the lifeboats in attendance.[11][12] Heavy fog hampered the search and a helicopter searching the area had to turn back due to low visibility. Lifeboats from Cowes and Calshot were in attendance.[13] Red Falcon was refloated with the assistance of tugs and docked in East Cowes. There were no reported injuries.[14] Greylag, the yacht sunk by Red Falcon, was successfully raised and recovered on 23 October 2018.[15]

References
  1. "Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries - Vessel Archive 1981-2010". Red Funnel. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  2. "MV Red Falcon Specification". redfunnel.co.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. "Maritime Journal: Linkspan Lifts Red Funnel's Fortunes". maritimejournal.com. 1 February 2005. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  4. "Red Funnel - vehicle ferry fleet". redfunnel.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  5. "Red Funnel plans to stretch car ferries" (PDF). Black Jack. World Ship Society, Southampton branch (123): 10. December 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  6. Red Falcon Refit, Red Funnel
  7. Live webcam pictures from Red Falcon, Red Funnel
  8. ""Investigators examine ferry crash"". bbc.co.uk. 11 March 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  9. 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.
  10. "Daily Mirror - "Southampton Red Funnel ferry collides with motorboat in Solent injuring two people"". Daily Mirror. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  11. Tew, Imogen. "Red Funnel ferry runs aground, hits yachts and prompts search and rescue mission in Solent". Isle of Wight County Press Online. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  12. Tew, Imogen. "Investigation launched after Red Funnel car ferry collided with yachts and ran aground". Isle of Wight County Press Online. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  13. Peter Stubley (21 October 2018). "Isle of Wight ferry crash: Red Falcon ship carrying dozens of passengers collides with two yachts during heavy fog". independent. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  14. "Red Funnel ferry hits yachts at Cowes harbour". bbc.co.uk. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  15. Pearce, Emily. "Yacht sunk in Red Funnel car ferry crash raised from the sea". Isle of Wight County Press Online. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
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