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MV Red Falcon

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History
United Kingdom
NameMV Red Falcon
Operator Red Funnel
BuilderFerguson Shipbuilders
Launched1994
In serviceApril 1994 -
IdentificationIMO number: 9064047
StatusActive
General characteristics
Tonnage3,953 GT
Length93.22 m (305.8 ft)
Beam17.5 m (57.4 ft)
Decks5, including 3 vehicle decks
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity892 passengers, 220 cars
Notes[1][2]

MV Red Falcon is a vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. It was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow.

She 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 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

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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 provided 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][8]

Incidents

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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.[9]

On 29 September 2018 she 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, she 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

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  1. ^ [https://web.archive.org/web/20120126104527/http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/corporate-information/company-history/vessel-archive-1981-2010/ Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries - Vessel Archive 1981-2010 Red Funnel
  2. ^ MV Red Falcon Specification Red Funnel
  3. ^ "Maritime Journal: Linkspan Lifts Red Funnel's Fortunes". Maritime Journal. 1 February 2005. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  4. ^ "Red Funnel - vehicle ferry fleet". Red Funnel. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Red Funnel plans to stretch car ferries" (PDF). Black Jack (123). World Ship Society, Southampton branch: 10. December 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  6. ^ Red Falcon Refit, Red Funnel
  7. ^ Live webcam pictures from Red Falcon Red Funnel
  8. ^ Big Spend on Red Falcon Ships Monthly March 2014 page 10
  9. ^ ""Investigators examine ferry crash"". BBC News. 11 March 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  10. ^ "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. 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. 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". The Independent. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Red Funnel ferry hits yachts at Cowes harbour". BBC News. 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. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
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Media related to Red Falcon (ship, 1994) at Wikimedia Commons

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