Red Jet 4

Red Jet 4 travelling towards Cowes
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Red Jet 4
Operator	Red Funnel
Builder	North West Bay Ships
Yard number	06
Laid down	2002
Launched	20 February 2003[1]
In service	23 June 2003
Identification	IMO number: 9295854 MMSI number: 235008564 Callsign: VQ113
Status	Sold
General characteristics
Class and type	Catamaran ferry
Tonnage	120 GT
Length	39.82 m (130.6 ft)
Beam	10.82 m (35.5 ft)
Draught	1.26 m (4.1 ft)
Propulsion	2 x MJP 650R-DD waterjets
Speed	38.1 knots (70.6 km/h; 43.8 mph) (increasing to 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) when lightly loaded)[1]
Capacity	275
Crew	max 6

MV Red Jet 4 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 6 and Red Jet 7.

History

She was built by North West Bay Ships in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[1] After her launch on 20 February 2003 the catamaran was placed aboard a heavy lift ship to be transported to Southampton which arrived on 9 May 2003.[1] She was officially named by Dame Ellen MacArthur on 18 June 2003 and entered service five days later.[1] During those 5 days the ship was used for a number of excursions including following the Round the Island Race.[1]

On 11 November 2008 Red Jet 4 was used on a number of sightseeing trips to view Queen Elizabeth 2 before it left Southampton for the final time.[2]

In March 2024 Red funnel announced that Red Jet 4 had been withdrawn from service stating it was due to declining passenger numbers.[3] In May 2024 Red Jet 4 was sold to the South Korean ferry operator Namhae Express Co.[4] In late May 2024 the ship left Southampton aboard the ship AAL Kobe.[5]

Incidents

On 5 November 2016, while passing Fawley en route to Cowes, Red Jet 4 was in a sidelong collision with a man riding a jet ski. The man was uninjured and was picked up by a companion on another machine. Red Jet 4 circled to make sure the rescue was successful before continuing on its course.[6]

In popular culture

Red Jet 4 is featured in the 2008 video game Ship Simulator 2008 with the MV Red Eagle as a sailable ship, as well as featuring in Ship Simulator Extremes.[7]

References

1. Adams, Keith (2010). Red Funnel 150 Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of The Original Isle of Wight Ferries. Richard Danielson. p. 69. ISBN 9780951315552.
2. 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.
3. "Ferry axed by operator amid passenger decline and cost concerns". Daily Echo. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
4. "Isle of Wight: Red Jet 4 heading to South Korea after sale". BBC News. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
5. Saunders, Zach (13 June 2024). "Former Isle of Wight ferry Red Jet 4 travels to South Korea". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
6. "Man on jet ski ploughs into ferry off Southampton". BBC News. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
7. "Ship Simulator 2008". Eurogamer.net. Eurogamer. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2010.

External links

• Red Jet 4 at redfunnel.co.uk