30 | Seaways | May 2018 Read Seaways online at http://www.nautinst.org/seawaysA round-up of news and events from NI branches across the world.
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The Nautical Institute Solent Branch
membership was invited by Captain Alwyn Rees
and Captain Aqeel Hyder of Red Funnel to hold
its meeting aboard the ro-ro ferry Red Osprey,
courtesy of the Master, Captain Alice Duncan,
and Senior Master Captain Russ Hodgson. A
capacity audience met in the ferry’s Signature
lounge for the round trip from Southampton to
Cowes and back.
The round trip across the Solent lent itself
to a mini-seminar, with one speaker taking
the leg to Cowes and the second speaker the
Southampton-bound leg. The turnaround in
Cowes provided an opportunity for members to
visit the bridge.Southampton past and present
On the outbound leg, Captain Martin Phipps
MBE, who has recently completed eight years
as Southampton Harbour Master, gave a talk on
the Port of Southampton past and present. The
port’s history stretches back to Roman times. Its
modern renaissance goes back to the mid-19th
century, following development of the Victoria
docks from 1838. In the interwar years, the
transatlantic passenger trade was a major driver
of shipping development in the port. The port
and immediate hinterland played a vital role in
the build-up to the Normandy landings in 1944.
Reclamation work in the post-war years allowed
spectacular growth in port activity.
The cruise sector continues to play an
important role in the port. Last year saw 500
cruise ship calls, with 2 million passengers
passing through the port – up from 702,000
in 2005. This is expected to rise to nearly 3.5
million by 2035. The container trade is expected
to reach some 2.7M teu by 2030, with dry bulk
reaching nearly 2.2M tons. The development of
very large container ships has seen the largest
of them (more than 20,000teu) regularly visiting
the port’s specialist berths.
Finally, Capt Phipps summarised the extent
of the port VTS and the Harbour Master’s
authority. The Harbour Master’s department
has 120 staff controlling the wide range of
responsibilities attached to operating the port.
By the end of the presentation the audience
had a better understanding of the complexities
of running the many trades operating from
Southampton and Fawley. Southampton is truly
the most complete port in the UK.High-speed ferry operations
The second presentation was given by Captain
Matthew Parker, a Red Funnel officer who
specialises in health and safety issues relating
to the operation of high-speed ferries. WeSOLENT BRANCH
Onboard visit: Red Osprey
were updated on Red Funnel’s high-speed
‘Red Jet’ fleet, including the introduction of
Red Jet 6 in 2016 and the progress of Red Jet
7 , under construction in the Wight Shipyard
in East Cowes from a design by One2Three
Australian naval architects. Captain Parker went
into considerable detail about the technical
specification. RJ7 has an operating speed of
38 knots (where permitted), a range of 200
nautical miles at the service speeds and a
passenger capacity of 275 (including four
wheelchairs). The crew consists of four people: a
commander, a mate and two cabin attendants.
Propulsion is achieved by four Hamilton
HM571 waterjets, powered by 4 × 10V2000 M72
direct injection liquid-cooled turbochargeddiesels developing 900kW at 2,250rpm. The trim
control maintains a low wash characteristic.
One aspect of the build that captured the
audience’s interest was the system of hull
coatings used to project a high visibility and
durable finish. Captain Parker completed his
presentation by explaining the navigation and
communication systems; all compliant and right
up to date. More detailed information can be
found on http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/redjet7.
Before disembarking in Southampton, the
Solent Branch Chairman offered a vote of thanks
to the speakers and to Captains Rees, Hyder,
Duncan and Hodgson.
John Noble FNIBranch activities_SGS.indd 30 18/04/2018 13:48