Southampton cross-Solent ferry company Red Funnel has ventured north of the border to work alongside Scotland's biggest passenger shipping operator in the Firth of Clyde.

Red Funnel has chartered the Isle of Wight-based catamaran, Ali Cat, to Caledonian MacBrayne to link the Scottish towns of Gourock and Dunoon during the winter months.

This comes as Red Funnel said goodbye to their last two hydrofoils, Shearwater 5 and Shearwater 6, which have been sold as private vessels to a holiday diving company in Thailand.

Ali Cat, which is of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) construction with alloy superstructures, has been chartered by Caledonian MacBrayne until April 3, 2003 and will be providing a passenger only service at peak rush-hour times between the two towns.

The 19.5 metre catamaran has already begun operation with a service speed of 13.5 knots and is designed to travel in all sea conditions.

Tom Docherty, Red Funnel operations director, said: "We are delighted that for the first time in many years, Red Funnel will be servicing passengers beyond the Solent.

"Our contract with Caledonian MacBrayne was won against local competition and is testimony to our track record in providing ferry services built on reliability.''

Built in 1999, Ali Cat is to carry the Red Funnel brand name while operating in Scotland.

Shirley Fraser, Caledonian MacBrayne's route manager on the Clyde said: "Ali Cat has now arrived and we look forward to her providing the passenger service between Gourock and Dunoon as scheduled.

"She is an interesting addition to the fleet and I am sure that our passengers on the three scheduled sailings will be well served.''

Red Funnel's two old hydrofoils, which last saw service about four years ago, are due to operate in and out of the Thai holiday resort of Phuket and have been acquired by a German diving company.

The 20 year-old vessels, which were decommissioned by Red Funnel, are at present in the Red Sea en route for the Far East.