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SERVICE STATUS View Departures
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MV Red Falcon

Vessel specs and features

Soaring across the Solent

Built in 1994 by Ferguson Shipbuilders of Glasgow, Red Falcon was the first of three Raptor Class Ro-Pax ferries to join the Red Funnel fleet. With capacity for 892 passengers and 220 cars on three deck levels, the Red Falcon makes 4,000 Solent crossings each year, racking up an incredible 45,000 miles annually.

In 2004, Red Falcon was refitted and extended by Remontawa in Gdansk, and in 2014 the ferry’s interior underwent a complete and extensive refit.

Wifi icon
Free Wifi
Wheelchair friendly icon
Accessibility
Coaches Welcome icon
Coaches Welcome
Lift icon
Car Deck Lift
Children Welcome icon
Child Friendly Lounge
Dog Friendly icon
Pet Friendly
Baby Changing icon
Baby Changing Stations
Toilets icon
Washrooms
Cafe icon
Steam Café
Restaurant icon
ReFuel café restaurant
Licensed Bar icon
Licensed Bar
Gift Shop icon
Gifts & Souvenirs
TV icon
TV's
Sea View icon
Sea Views
All Weather
Operates Year Round

Red Falcon Overview

  • Type: Raptor Class Ro-Pax Passenger Ferry Class IV – EU Class Ferry
  • Yard: Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow
  • Year of Build: 1994
  • Length Overall: 93.22m
  • Breadth moulded: 17.5m
  • Maximum permitted draught: 2.713m
  • Gross Registered tonnage: 4128
  • Net Registered tonnage: 1238
  • Deadweight: 606 tons
  • Service speed: 12 knots
  • Passenger capacity: 892
  • Vehicle capacity: 220 CEUs

Machinery

  • Main engines: 2 x 8 cyl Stork Wartsila FHD 240 turbocharged diesels each developing 1,360KW
  • Generators: 3 x diesels 3 phase 50Hz
  • Propulsion: 2 x Voith Schneider Propulsion Units

Safety Equipment

  • Rescue boats
  • Inflatable liferafts
  • Lifejackets for persons > 32Kg in weight
  • Lifejackets for persons < 32Kg in weight
  • Infant Lifejackets
  • Wet Chemical fire Suppression system for Galley
  • Fixed CO2 System for Machinery Space
  • Fixed Vehicle Deck Drencher System
  • Smoke and Heat Fire Detection System
  • Fixed Vehicle Deck Drencher System
  • Fireman’s Outfit and Breathing Apparatus
  • International Shore Connection
  • Hydrants, hoses and nozzles
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Fire fighting Equipment
  • Lifebuoys
  • Parachute flares
  • Line Throwing Apparatus
  • Megaphones
  • CCTV System
Image of the ferry on the water
Red Falcon Ferry
Aerial Image of the ferry
Image of the ferry on the water
Red Falcon

Bridge / Navigational Equipment

  • Radar
  • GPS receiver
  • Anemometer
  • Gyro Compass
  • Fixed VHF radio installations
  • Standard Magnetic Compass
  • Two-way VHF handheld radios
  • Automatic Identification System
  • Electronic Navigation Chart System

Passenger Facilities

  • Air conditioning in passenger spaces
  • 1 x passenger lounge on B Deck
  • 2 x passenger lounges on B Deck
  • 1 x ReFuel café restaurant
  • 3 x Steam Coffee café bars
  • 1 x Steam Coffee outlet
  • 1 x Ship Stores Shop
  • Toilets: Male | Female | Disabled
  • Baby changing facilities
  • 30 x TV screens + 2 large format touch screens
  • Outdoor seating areas
  • Large Isle of Wight historic timeline map

Classification

  • Call Sign: MSJF3
  • MMSI: 235014365
  • IMO Number: 9064047
  • Registered Number: 723945
  • Flag: United Kingdom
  • Port of Registry: Southampton
  • Complies with the requirement of International Safety Management Code (ISM Code), ISO9001 and ISO14001 standards.
  • Approved to carry Dangerous Goods
  • Certifying Authority: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Red Osprey

Red Osprey

Our second vehicle ferry was built in 1994 by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Glasgow. In 2003, Red Osprey was refitted and extended, and in 2015 an interior refit gave the vessel a refreshed, contemporary look and feel.

Facilities

Wifi icon
Free Wifi
Wheelchair friendly icon
Accessibility
Coaches Welcome icon
Coaches Welcome
Lift icon
Car Deck Lift
Image of the ferry on the water

Red Eagle

Red Funnel’s third addition to the vehicle fleet, Red Eagle was constructed by Ferguson Shipbuilders in 1996 and refitted and extended in 2004, followed by a complete interior overhaul in winter 2018.

Facilities

Wifi icon
Free Wifi
Wheelchair friendly icon
Accessibility
Coaches Welcome icon
Coaches Welcome
Lift icon
Car Deck Lift

Fleet FAQs

View frequently asked questions about our fleet.

Please see our contact page for full details

We have baby changing facilities on all three of our vehicle ferries. For a full list of onboard facilities, go to our fleet page.

All of our vessels cater for disabled customers and have disabled access. All three of our vehicle ferry’s have lift access from the main deck to the passenger lounge which can be requested upon arrival. Customers are not permitted to stay in their vehicle for the duration of the crossing however under extreme circumstances a request can be made to the captain upon arrival. More accessibility information...

Dogs are carried free of charge, please see our pet policy 

E-scooters are prohibited on board all Red Funnel vessels and throughout all terminal areas, both indoor and outdoor. This includes all aspects of e-scooter usage on site and includes the charging, transportation and storage of e-scooters. Those traveling with non-electric (push) scooters via our ferries must dismount and push their scooter at all times. Our policy is in place for the safety of our customers and staff due to fire safety concerns associated with e-scooter batteries, as well as the incidence of both e-scooter and push scooter-related accidents resulting in personal injury. Our policy is consistent with other transport operators and reflects a policy undertaken by ABP (Associated British Ports), which prohibits the use of scooters in any part of their port operations and estates. We thank our customers for understanding that our on-board and terminal areas are unsuitable environments for scooter usage. The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority.

For Vehicle Ferries: 

Visit the Ticket Office at East Cowes or Terminal 1, Southampton or phone us on 023 8001 9192

 

For Red Jet Passengers: 

Visit the Ticket Office at West Cowes or Terminal 2, Town Quay, Southampton or call us on 023 8001 9192.

In accordance with the statutory ban on smoking in public areas, Red Funnel enforces a No Smoking policy inside all its terminal areas and inside its vessels. The no smoking policy includes all synthetic/e/electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

The only exception is the designated smoking area on 'A deck' (outside deck) of the Passenger Vehicle Ferries where smoking and vaping is permitted. Customers are requested to always use the cigarette bins provided and never throw cigarette butts into the sea.

Please be advised some sailings may be entirely non-smoking if we are carrying certain goods. You will be advised of this in the onboard safety announcement after you board. 

Customers can travel with electric bikes, however charging electric bikes is strictly prohibited onboard any of our vessels and throughout all our terminals. 

Please click here for Government guidance on the transport of items classified as dangerous by individuals in private vehicles and by foot passengers on board our vessels. If you have any queries, please get in touch with our dedicated Freight team by emailing [email protected] prior to travel.

No, you are not permitted to fly drones from our ferries without prior written permission, and completion of a full risk assessment. If you wish to apply for permission, please contact our Marketing department via email.

Customer Reviews

1 2 3 4 5
Very good service and it’s nice to be able to relax on your trip across the solant.
Fri, Dec 13 2024
1 2 3 4 5
Good service throughout!
Thu, Dec 12 2024
1 2 3 4 5
Efficient but expensive.
Thu, Dec 12 2024