Red Funnel marked 165 years since the company was formed with an anniversary sailing from East Cowes to Southampton today, 10 September 2026.
Chief executive Fran Collins addressed guests in the Signature Lounge during the hour-long crossing.
Members of Trinity Theatre performed an original short play on board and a violinist played live classical music.
Red Funnel also put a number of rare artefacts from its archive on display.
Where the story starts
The company began life as The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited. Quite a mouthful, but the current vessels are certainly long enough to fit the whole name along the side.
Scheduled year-round Steam Packet services started running between Southampton, Cowes, Ryde, Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour with foot passengers first.
The company later expanded into a tug service, which carried on until 2002.
Diesel changes the fleet
Diesel propulsion arrived in the 1950s, when the first purpose-built diesel vehicle ferries joined the fleet.
Red Funnel describes that as a turning point in its history.
Fran spoke about the challenges the company faces during Covid and how team work ensured the service continued to provide a lifeline to and from the Island.
Red Funnel has around 600 members of staff, a sizeable employer, but still small enough for what appears to be a great sense of community among the staff.
Our thanks to Red Funnel for inviting us on board today to hear more about the company’s history and for possibly the first time we’ve travelled on a ferry where the final destination was the same terminal we departed from.
You can find out more about the company’s history on their website.
