Overview

• The Red Eagle suffered an aft engine failure halfway across the Solent on July 23, leaving it adrift until tug Wynforce towed it into Southampton’s Town Quay at about 4:23 pm.
• Red Funnel announced the cancellation of six scheduled Red Eagle crossings on July 24 between East Cowes and Southampton.
• Red Jet 7 services have also been halted for technicians to focus on the Red Eagle’s essential aft engine work.
• Alternative sailings on Red Osprey and Red Falcon have been offered and affected passengers have been notified of revised schedules.
• The breakdown and ensuing disruptions have strained the vital Isle of Wight–Southampton transport link and raised questions about the operator’s maintenance resilience.