Cammell Laird’s (www.clbh.co.uk) Birkenhead shipyard has received a £10 million order from Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel to build a new roll-on/roll-off freight ferry that will be delivered early next year.

The new ship will provide additional year-round freight capacity for Red Funnel’s Southampton-East Cowes route, which currently handles 53% of all freight movements across the Solent. It will be able to carry up to 12 articulated lorries.

Kevin George, chairman and CEO of Red Funnel, said: “We are the number-one operator for cross-Solent freight. This new ship will provide more early-morning capacity on weekdays and more freight-only sailings between October and March each year.”

Business Secretary Greg Clark MP said: “This is another vote of confidence in British shipbuilding and the excellence of our marine manufacturing sector, which we want to build on as part of our Industrial Strategy.

“This announcement is great news for the skilled workers at Red Funnel and Cammell Laird, and for the local economies of Merseyside and the Isle of Wight.”

The ferry operator has now invested more than £20 million in its cross-Solent services since the business was acquired by the consortium of UK and Canadian pension funds in July 2017.