Red Jet 7 and MTU: a great alliance

Red Jet 7 and MTU had launched their 7th Red Jet model and it will join it sister ships in plying a route that it has been operating by Red Funnel company since the nineteen century.

Red Jet 7, the new fast ferry run by UK operator Red Funnel, was built in the UK by the Wight Shipyard Co. and RollsRoyce supplied the four MTU 10V 2000 M72 engines. Red Jet 7 is the latest addition to the Red Funnel fleet, all of whose fast ferries are equipped with MTU engines.

Mark Slawson, Fleet and Technical Director for Red Funnel said:

«Red Jet 7 continues a long tradition of using MTU engines which began with the Italian built hydrofoils which were used in the 1970’s and 80’s. For us, the winning features are the low cost of operating the engines and their high power-to-weight ratios. Coupled with low fuel consumption, this makes the vessels very efficient to run, which is important considering the heavy operating profile they endure».

Powered by four 900 kW MTU Series 2000 engines, Red Jet 7 has a top speed of 38 knots while also meeting the International Maritime Organization requirements IMO for Tier II certification. With a length of over 40 meters, Red Jet 7 is able to accommodate up to 277 passengers.

MTU AND THE FULL COVERAGE ASSISTANCE

Bruce Philips, Managing Director at MTU UK, said: «It has been a pleasure to work with the British Wight Shipyard Co. on this project after Red Jet 6, and we congratulate Red Funnel on their fast ferry fleet which now consists of four ships».

Red Jet 7 is to join its sister ships Red Jet 6, Red Jet 4 and Red Jet 3 in plying between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The fast ferry will complete the 9.9 nautical mile route in a mere 23 minutes. Red Funnel carries over 3.4 million passengers per year between the British mainland and the Isle of Wight, a route it has been operating since 1861.