Laid down 1999 Fate Sold to Toremar Class and type Solent Class Catamaran Launched 2009 Builder New London | Identification IMO number 8954415 Status In service Construction started 1999 Capacity 187 Operator Toremar | |
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Name 1999—2008 MV Bo Hengy
2009-2016 MV Red Jet 5
2016 onwards Schiopparello Jet | ||
Red funnel s red jet 5 passing queen victoria
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. The vessel is unique in that it is the only Red Jet not new to Red Funnel. Red Jet 5 has since been sold to Toremar for an undisclosed sum.
Contents
- Red funnel s red jet 5 passing queen victoria
- Red jet 5 catamaran
- Construction
- Purchase by Red Funnel
- References
Red jet 5 catamaran
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 United States, at the Pequot River Shipworks in New London, Connecticut in 1999. 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. The vessel was then towed Portchester to refurbished and to be given an internal layout based on Red Jet 4. The work was carried out by Testbank along with Coastal and Burgess Marine
The ship was officially named Red Jet 5 by Shirley Robertson on 21 July 2009, entering service about a week later. 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 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.