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| Red Jet leaves passengers behind | Last week Red Jet 3 departed Cowes leaving about 20 people waiting at Cowes. Red Jet 3 has, in the eleven years since she was built, gained weight. This is a normal situation with any vessel as new equipment is added, seating and carpets upgraded, layers of paint build up etc. It is known as ‘lightship growth’. This lightship growth, in Red Jet 3’s case, means that the available payload is reduced. Whereas before Red Jet 3 could be loaded to capacity before the load line (similar to the Plimsoll Line) was reached she now reaches the load line before the maximum number of passengers is embarked. The average number of passengers that can be embarked before the load line is reached is now 150, against a seating capacity of 190. The total may vary as a result of the mix of passengers on board and the amount of luggage carried by those passengers. Procedures are in place to maximise the passenger uplift – we reduce the fuel load at peak times, we have recently lifted the vessel to clean off marine growth, we try to ensure that no excessive stores etc are loaded on the vessel however it still means that around 40 seats will be unoccupied when the vessel is loaded to capacity. Long term solutions to this problem are being explored. We are working with our naval architects and regulatory body to change the loadline to a position similar to that of Red Jet 5 which will allow the vessel to lift her full compliment of passengers; however, this is a very technical and complicated procedure that may take some weeks or months to complete. This issue in no way detracts from the safe operation of Red Jet 3, in fact limiting the passenger load is a decision taken in the interests of safety in order to comply with the vessel loading conditions. | 25/01/10 15:13 | |
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