Red Jet 4

MV Red Jet 4 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 6 and Red Jet 7.

Red Jet 4 travelling towards Cowes
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Red Jet 4
Operator	Red Funnel
Builder	North West Bay Ships
Yard number	06
Laid down	2002
Launched	20 February 2003[1]
In service	23 June 2003
Identification	IMO number: 9295854 MMSI number: 235008564 Callsign: VQ113
Status	Sold
General characteristics
Class and type	Catamaran ferry
Tonnage	120 GT
Length	39.82 m (130.6 ft)
Beam	10.82 m (35.5 ft)
Draught	1.26 m (4.1 ft)
Propulsion	2 x MJP 650R-DD waterjets
Speed	38.1 knots (70.6 km/h; 43.8 mph) (increasing to 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) when lightly loaded)[1]
Capacity	275
Crew	max 6

History

She was built by North West Bay Ships in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.^[1] After her launch on 20 February 2003 the catamaran was placed aboard a heavy lift ship to be transported to Southampton which arrived on 9 May 2003.^[1] She was officially named by Dame Ellen MacArthur on 18 June 2003 and entered service five days later.^[1] During those 5 days the ship was used for a number of excursions including following the Round the Island Race.^[1]

On 11 November 2008 Red Jet 4 was used on a number of sightseeing trips to view Queen Elizabeth 2 before it left Southampton for the final time.^[2]

In March 2024 Red funnel announced that Red Jet 4 had been withdrawn from service stating it was due to declining passenger numbers.^[3] In May 2024 Red Jet 4 was sold to the South Korean ferry operator Namhae Express Co.^[4] In late May 2024 the ship left Southampton aboard the ship AAL Kobe.^[5]

Incidents

On 5 November 2016, while passing Fawley en route to Cowes, Red Jet 4 was in a sidelong collision with a man riding a jet ski. The man was uninjured and was picked up by a companion on another machine. Red Jet 4 circled to make sure the rescue was successful before continuing on its course.^[6]

In popular culture

Red Jet 4 is featured in the 2008 video game Ship Simulator 2008 with the MV Red Eagle as a sailable ship, as well as featuring in Ship Simulator Extremes.^[7]