What Crew Members Say About Red-Eagle

On the morning of September 25, 2025, Red Funnel was compelled to suspend operations of its ferry 'Red Eagle' in East Cowes due to an incident involving a lorry and another vehicle. The collision rendered the vessel incapable of making its journey until experts could assess the situation. As a result, the 'Red Eagle' remained docked, leading to a complete halt of the vehicle ferry service. Sailings scheduled for 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. from Southampton, along with the 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. crossings from East Cowes, were canceled. Fortunately, by 10:40 a.m., all vehicles had been safely cleared from the ferry, allowing the service to fully resume operations thereafter.

On July 23, 2025, the 'Red Eagle' encountered mechanical issues mid-voyage while operating between East Cowes and Southampton on Southampton Water. The vessel was subsequently towed into Southampton port by a tugboat. Passengers were informed that the 7:30 p.m. BST crossing from East Cowes was cancelled, alongside the 05:00 a.m. sailing from Southampton on July 24. These cancellations were necessitated by essential repairs required for the aft engine. As of July 24, 2025, the 'Red Eagle' remained docked in Southampton, awaiting necessary maintenance.

The vehicle ferry 'Red Eagle' has been sidelined once again, resulting in a series of service cancellations on the evening of April 22. A malfunction in the cooling pump has caused at least four sailings on the East Cowes-Southampton route to be cancelled. Specifically, the disruptions affected the 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. sailings departing from Southampton and the planned 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. departures from East Cowes. At this time, it's uncertain whether further cancellations will occur on April 23, leaving passengers awaiting updates on the situation.

On April 5, 2025, the 'Red Eagle' encountered significant engine troubles shortly after resuming service following an extensive dry dock period at Falmouth. This technical malfunction forced the cancellation of at least two planned sailings, raising concerns about potential disruptions throughout the day. The vessel set off from East Cowes at 6:30 a.m., but as it navigated toward Southampton, an engine problem arose. By 7:10 a.m., the ferry had ground to a halt close to Netley. Gradually, it resumed its movement along Southampton Water. Consequently, Red Funnel announced the cancellation of all departures from Southampton until 9:15 p.m. and from East Cowes until 9:45 p.m. Passengers were encouraged to use the unaffected high-speed service between Southampton and West Cowes. The stranding of the 'Red Eagle' was attributed to a malfunction in the aft engine high-temperature cooling pump, necessitating its removal from service for the entire weekend while technical teams worked on repairs. Meanwhile, the 'Red Falcon' and 'Red Osprey' continued operating, providing frustrated travelers the opportunity to embark on their journeys either an hour earlier or later than originally scheduled.

On the evening of November 20, the 'Red Eagle' faced significant disruptions as a technical issue with its aft engine prompted the cancellation of four scheduled crossings. The cross-Solent service, operated by the vessel, announced the cancellation of the 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. sailings departing from Southampton, alongside the 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. departures from East Cowes. Additionally, the challenges with the engine have extended into the following morning, resulting in the cancellation of both the 4:30 a.m. sailing from Southampton and the 6:00 a.m. crossing from East Cowes on November 21. Passengers are advised to check for updates and alternative travel options as the operator works to resolve the technical fault.