MV Red Osprey
Encyclopedia
MV Red Osprey is a Raptor Class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel
on their route from Southampton
to East Cowes
on the Isle of Wight
. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders
in Glasgow
.
She first entered service in 1994, being bought new by Red Funnel along with her sister ship Red Falcon
and as such, has operated the same regular route throughout her life. Between October and December 2003 she was re-fitted and extended by Remontowa
in Gdansk
, Poland
, in order to increase vehicle capacity by 80 and allow a greater passenger capacity. This involved the lengthening of the ship by 9.6 m (31.5 ft). She was the first of Red Funnel's Raptor Class ships to undergo the process,. From December 2004 until 's stretch was completed a year later, she was the largest vessel regularly crossing the Solent
, having taken this title from Wightlink
's .
In January 2009, both sides of the ship were re-painted in an entirely yellow and blue livery to celebrate the opening of a new IKEA
store in Southampton
. This was the first time a Red Funnel ferry was re-painted out of the company's own red and white colour scheme. She stayed in these colours for 12 months as part of a deal between Red Funnel and IKEA to provide home delivery services to the Isle of Wight. In January 2010 following a service she was re-painted into the standard red and white Red Funnel colour scheme when the deal came to an end.
Red Funnel
The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, which trades as Red Funnel, is a ferry company that carries passengers and vehicles on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight...
on their route from Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to East Cowes
East Cowes
East Cowes is a town and civil parish to the north of the Isle of Wight, on the east bank of the River Medina next to its neighbour on the west bank, Cowes....
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders
Ferguson Shipbuilders
Ferguson Shipbuilders Limited is a shipyard located in Port Glasgow on the River Clyde in Scotland. It is the last remaining shipbuilder on the lower Clyde, and is currently the only builder of merchant ships on the river - the company's mainstay has long been Roll-on/roll-off ferries.-History:The...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
She first entered service in 1994, being bought new by Red Funnel along with her sister ship Red Falcon
MV Red Falcon
MV Red Falcon is a Raptor Class vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Red Funnel on their route from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Glasgow....
and as such, has operated the same regular route throughout her life. Between October and December 2003 she was re-fitted and extended by Remontowa
Remontowa
Remontowa is a shipyard in the Polish city of Gdańsk. The yard specialises in ship repair and conversions. Remontowa S.A...
in Gdansk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, in order to increase vehicle capacity by 80 and allow a greater passenger capacity. This involved the lengthening of the ship by 9.6 m (31.5 ft). She was the first of Red Funnel's Raptor Class ships to undergo the process,. From December 2004 until 's stretch was completed a year later, she was the largest vessel regularly crossing the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
, having taken this title from Wightlink
Wightlink
Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.Their core routes are car ferries from Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Fishbourne...
's .
In January 2009, both sides of the ship were re-painted in an entirely yellow and blue livery to celebrate the opening of a new IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
store in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. This was the first time a Red Funnel ferry was re-painted out of the company's own red and white colour scheme. She stayed in these colours for 12 months as part of a deal between Red Funnel and IKEA to provide home delivery services to the Isle of Wight. In January 2010 following a service she was re-painted into the standard red and white Red Funnel colour scheme when the deal came to an end.