Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Red-Falcon

Passengers traveling on the Red Funnel ferry service from the Isle of Wight faced frustrating delays of nearly 90 minutes on December 27, 2023, as technical issues plagued the 'Red Falcon.' This disruption specifically impacted the key cross-Solent route connecting East Cowes and Southampton. The affected sailings included those scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., with delays extending to approximately 90 minutes for these departures. Travelers were advised to plan accordingly amid the operational setbacks affecting this vital maritime link.

On the morning of May 22, passengers faced disruptions on the Red Funnel ferry service as the 'Red Falcon' encountered a malfunction with its aft engine. This technical issue led to the cancellation of multiple sailings, including the 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. departures from East Cowes to Southampton, as well as the 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. sailings from Southampton back to East Cowes. Additionally, the noon and 3 p.m. departures from East Cowes were also affected. This incident comes as Red Funnel is already operating on a pared-down timetable due to ongoing essential maintenance and engineering upgrades. Originally, the two-ship service was set to conclude on May 19, but it has now been extended and will remain in effect until at least June 8.

On March 17, Red Funnel announced the cancellation of a total of twelve vehicle ferry services between East Cowes and Southampton as they continue to address technical difficulties with the 'Red Falcon'. This decision comes in light of several service disruptions over the previous week, including cancellations on March 16 due to similar issues with the vessel's FWD engine. Sailings from Southampton scheduled for 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., alongside services from East Cowes at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m., have been suspended as a result of ongoing contractual repair work. In the interim, Red Funnel is operating the 'Red Osprey' and will also utilize the freight ferry 'Red Kestrel' to enhance deck space for passengers. The company is collaborating with external contractors to resolve the issue, which includes critical tasks such as realigning the engine timings before the essential sea trials can take place.

On March 14, 2023, Red Funnel announced the cancellation of a dozen vehicle ferry services aboard the 'Red Falcon' on the Isle of Wight. The decision came after a critical fault was discovered in the vessel's propulsion system, necessitating additional repairs. The affected sailings include significant departures from East Cowes at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m., as well as from Southampton at 4:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Red Funnel's teams, alongside external contractors, are working tirelessly to resolve the problem, which involves critical work such as engine timing realignment. The company is planning to conduct sea trials on March 15, pending the successful completion of these repairs.