Red Funnel is to invest £2.2 million on a major interior refurbishment for a second of the three Raptor class ferries maintaining passenger/vehicle services from Southampton to East Cowes. Red Falcon returned earlier this year after having passenger areas transformed, and now Red Osprey will start a conversion early in 2015, with completion due before Easter.
As with Red Falcon, the project will be handled in Southampton by marine interior specialist Trimline with support from local suppliers. The work increases the number of inside seats by 55 per cent, with two new lounges and new food and beverage menus; air-conditioning will be fitted throughout.
Red Falcon’s new areas have been well received, with Red Funnel reporting a 15 per cent increase in passenger numbers through 2014’s main summer season. Built on the Clyde by Ferguson in the early 1990s, the trio went to Remontowa, Poland, between 2003 and 2005 for the superstructure to be raised to create an enlarged upper vehicle deck. RP
