UK shipbuilder Cammell Laird has completed the construction of Red Funnel’s freight-only roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel Red Kestrel.
The new vessel sailed away from the builder’s River Mersey shipyard following a nine-month construction programme.
Featuring a length of 74 meters, the Red Kestrel will operate between Southampton and Isle of Wight. The vessel will officially join the fleet on arrival in Southampton, and enter service in May 2019, following trials and its official naming ceremony.
As a freight vessel it is limited to 12 passengers and constructed specifically to provide additional year-round freight capacity for Red Funnel’s Southampton-East Cowes route, which currently handles 53% of all freight movements across the Solent.
“We are delighted to see the Red Kestrel begin its journey to Southampton for her naming ceremony and her life on the Solent. The addition of a new ship is always an exciting time for everyone in the company,” Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said.