Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has signed a long-term docking deal with South Coast ferry operator Red Funnel.   The agreement covers the annual docking of the Red Funnel three-ship ro-pax fleet at Portsmouth Naval Base for the next three years.

Under the agreement, Red Funnel will get priority on their favoured docking slots at FSL during the traditional winter refit period. The agreement started with the two-week docking of the Red Osprey in November and the other two ships in the fleet, Red Eagle and Red Falcon, will dock at Portsmouth early next year for short survey and inspection periods.

The format will generally be for one Red Funnel ship to undergo an extended docking each winter, while the other two ships are docked for inspection.

FSL has built a significant winter business from docking Solent-based and cross-Channel ferries with up to 17 ships being stemmed for 2007/8.

“Long-term agreements allow both FSL and the shipowner to plan more effectively. With the guaranteed workload we are able to offer more competitive rates and a better service as we become more experienced in regularly handling  the same ships,” explained FSL Engineering and Ship Support Director Mal Lewis.

Red Funnel  Fleet Director, Keith Edwards added: “FSL is gaining an impressive reputation as a location for commercial shiprepair. Signing up to a three-year agreement means we can create a partnership with the company that will enable us to work together in delivering the requirements for each ship more efficiently.”

Caption for photo: (l to r) FSL Commercial Shiprepair Manager Steve Ryder, Red Funnel Technical Director Mark Bridger, Fleet Director Keith Edwards, Managing Director Tom Docherty and FSL Commercial Ships Sales Manager Andy Jordan