Red Funnel Chief Engineer Busted for Drunk Rampage on Busy Lunchtime Ferry
Chaos erupted on the Red Eagle ferry this lunchtime after the chief engineer was arrested for drunken abuse. Police swooped just before midday at the East Cowes ferry port following a furious outburst that left staff and passengers shaken.
Shouting, Banging and Abuse Spark Police Call
Things quickly spiralled out of control when a staff member raised the alarm about a loud, aggressive man causing a scene on board. “There was shouting and banging,” a bystander told us. “He looked like he’d been drinking and was hostile to anyone who came near.” Some passengers even thought he was part of the Red Funnel crew.
Handcuffed and Led Away Before Sailing
Officers arrived just before 12pm, detaining the man in handcuffs as the ferry prepared to set sail. The chaos delayed the sailing by up to an hour while police cleared the scene.
Red Funnel Confirms Arrest, Launches Investigation
A Red Funnel spokeswoman confirmed:
“An engineer on the 12:00 sailing from East Cowes was arrested by police before the vessel departed. We had no prior warning of this incident. The delay caused the 12:00 sailing from southampton/" title="Southampton" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Southampton to be pushed back by 30 minutes.
The company has launched an internal investigation into the offending staff member’s conduct. Meanwhile, passengers faced long waits and a disrupted journey amid the drama onboard.
