MV Schiopparello Jet is a passenger catamaran ferry, formerly known as Bo Hengy and Red Jet 5. She operates on routes from Piombino to the Tuscan archipelago on behalf of ferry operator Toremar (Toscana Regionale Marittima). She was built in 1999.
Schiopparello Jet is a sister ship to Red Jet 3, a catamaran designed and built by FBM Marine on the Isle of Wight for operation by Red Funnel. However, unlike her sister ship, she was built in the United States. She is distinguished from her sister by having a sheltered sundeck.[1]
History
Bo Hengy
Built as the Bo Hengy for Bahamas Ferries, the vessel was constructed at the Pequot River Shipworks in New London, Connecticut in 1999. She was retired in 2008. Bahamas Ferries now operates a larger catamaran called Bo Hengy II.
Red Jet 5
Following purchase by Red Funnel the vessel was transported to Southampton by heavy lift ship arriving 11 June 2009.[2] The vessel was then towed to Portchester to be refurbished with an internal layout based on Red Jet 4.[2] The work was carried out by Testbank along with Coastal and Burgess Marine.[3]
In 2015, Red Funnel announced that she would be replaced by a new ship, Red Jet 6, to be constructed at East Cowes.[4] Once the latter was brought into service in summer 2016,[5]Red Jet 5 was retired and sold.[6]
123Adams, Keith (2010). Red Funnel 150 Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of The Original Isle of Wight Ferries. Richard Danielson. p.71. ISBN9780951315552.
