Red Funnel Chief Engineer Arrested After Drunken Rant on Busy Lunchtime Ferry
Chaos erupted on the Red Eagle ferry at East Cowes just before midday as a senior staff member was arrested for disorderly behaviour. The company’s chief engineer became aggressive and abusive, sparking panic and delays aboard the vessel.
Shouting and Banging Spark Alarm
A concerned crew member called police after the man’s drunken outburst turned hostile towards passengers and staff. Witnesses reported loud shouting and banging minutes before police stormed the scene. “He looked visibly intoxicated,” said one passenger. “He was aggressive to anyone who came near. Some thought he was just another Red Funnel worker.”
Police Intervene Before Ferry Sets Sail
Officers arrived just before 12pm, handcuffed the engineer, and escorted him off the ferry. The incident delayed the scheduled 12:00 sailing from East Cowes by up to an hour. This disruption also pushed back the 12:00 sailing from southampton/" title="Southampton" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Southampton by 30 minutes, causing widespread frustration.
Red Funnel Launches Investigation
A company spokesperson confirmed the arrest, saying:
“Red Funnel can confirm an engineer on the 12:00 sailing from East Cowes was arrested by police before departure. We had no prior warning, and the delay impacted our timetables.”
The firm is conducting an internal probe into the incident involving their staff member. Meanwhile, passengers are left fuming over the prolonged hold-up on one of the busiest ferry runs of the day.
