By
Alex Smith |
UK-based company Red Funnel has become the world’s first domestic ferry operator to receive the DNV GL Covid-19 Statement of Compliance with Interferry Guidelines. The assessment certifies that the operator has established necessary measures to safeguard passengers, employees and crew from Covid-19.
Red Funnel has remained in operation throughout the pandemic to provide a ferry service between mainland England and the Isle of Wight. A comprehensive third-party verification of the company, the terminals and the vessels was performed remotely by DNV GL from Hamburg, Germany.
“We are very pleased to be the first domestic ferry operator in the world to have obtained the DNV GL Covid-19 Statement of Compliance with Interferry Guidelines,” said Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel. “This achievement recognises the daily efforts of our teams, both ashore and afloat, in going above and beyond to ensure the Government’s health guidelines are met and adhered to. The health and safety of our passengers has always been our key priority and we have been continuously adopting our operations to ensure safe travel for our customers.”
The DNV GL Covid-19 Statement of Compliance with Interferry Guidelines was developed to help ferry operators reassure stakeholders and customers that they have adopted the necessary measures as they resume their passenger ferry services following the pandemic.
“The Covid-19 outbreak has had a major impact on passenger vessels across Europe,” said Torgeir Sterri, regional manager for West Europe at DNV GL Maritime. “As lockdown measures begin to relax in the UK, as well as in the rest of the region, ferry operators need to demonstrate that the right measures are in place to keep passengers and crew safe. We are delighted to issue our Covid-19 Statement of Compliance with Interferry Guidelines to Red Funnel in order to support their operations and enhance the trust of their customers, employees and other stakeholders.”