Red Jet 5
 Red Jet 5 just after departing Cowes. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| |
| Name: |
1999—2008: MV Bo Hengy 2009 onwards MV Red Jet 5 |
| Operator: |
1999-2008: Bahamas Ferries 2009 onwards: Red Funnel |
| Builder: |
Pequot River Shipworks, New London, USA |
| Laid down: | 1999 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 8954415 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Solent Class Catamaran |
| Tonnage: | 209 tons |
| Length: | 32.9m |
| Beam: | 8.32m |
| Draught: | 1.25m |
| Propulsion: | 2 x MTU/DDC 4000 Series 4 |
| Speed: | 38 |
| Capacity: | 187 |
| Crew: | max 3 |
MV Red Jet 5 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 3 and Red Jet 4.[1] The vessel is unique in that it is the only Red Jet not new to Red Funnel.
Construction
Like Red Jet 3, the vessel is a Solent class catamaran designed by FBM Marine on the Isle of Wight, however unlike its sister ship it was built in the USA, at the Pequot River Shipworks in New London, Connecticut in 1999.[1] A distinguishing feature of the vessel is its sheltered sundeck.
Commissioned for Bahamas Ferries, the vessel was named Bo Hengy, and was retired in 2008. Bahamas Ferries now operates a larger catamaran called Bo Hengy II.
Purchase by Red Funnel
Following purchase by Red Funnel the vessel was transported to Southampton by heavy lift ship arriving 11 June 2009.[2] The vessel was then towed Portchester to refurbished and to be given an internal layout based on Red Jet 4.[2] The work was carried out by Testbank along with Coastal and Burgess Marine[3]
The ship was officially named Red Jet 5 by Shirley Robertson on 21 July 2009, entering service about a week later.[2] The vessel is by passenger capacity the third largest in the Red Jet fleet.
During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Red Jet 5 was chartered to Thames Clippers for use as a games shuttle on the Thames.
In 2015, it was announced by Red Funnel[4] that she would be joined by another sister ship, Red Jet 6, which is currently under construction in East Cowes and will replace Red Jet 5 once brought into service.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Red Jet 5 Specification". Red Funnel. Red Funnel. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 Adams, Keith (2010). Red Funnel 150 Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of The Original Isle of Wight Ferries. Richard Danielson. p. 71. ISBN 9780951315552.
- ↑ "Testbank ship repairers do first job at new base". The News. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ↑ "Red Jet 6 - coming summer 2016". Red Funnel. Red Funnel. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ↑ "RED JET 6 BUILD PROGRESSING WELL IN EAST COWES". Island Echo. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
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