A vital link between loughside villages

A vital link between loughside villages

23 January 2013

THE front ramp of the imposing MV Portaferry II is lowered slowly as the huge vessel approaches Strangford.

On board, drivers of a variety of vehicles start their engines and under the direction of crew members start to drive off the ferry and up the slipway.

Perched high above them in the wheelhouse, the skipper maintains a watching brief, ensuring the vessel remains steady as it unloads and prepares to welcome more vehicles and passengers before heading back to Portaferry.

The significance of the vital role the ferry crossing plays in the lives of people across Down District and a large swathe of the Ards peninsula can’t be overstated.

From schoolchildren to businessmen, farmers to tourists, commercial travellers to members of the emergency services, the ferry provides an essential link between the ports of Strangford and Portaferry 364 days a year.

During rain, hail, sleet, snow and even the odd glimpse of summer sun, the crew works hard to provide a very professional service to passengers. Over the past three years, almost 1.7m people have used the ferry crossing, a staggering statistic.

The government-subsidised ferry service is also extremely popular with tourists and the ferries which operate on the crossing have been photographed tens of thousands of times by visitors to the area. The vessels have also featured on many television programmes over the years.

And while passenger numbers may have decreased slightly last year as a direct result of the recession, the ferry service remains one of the most reliable in the UK, with only fog able to suspend its operation. The golden rule for skippers is that if they can’t see the Portaferry shoreline from Strangford, the service is suspended.

Seamus Fitzsimons, the manager of the ferry service explained the MV Portaferry II, which can carry 28 vehicles and 260 passengers has been in service for the past 11 years, with a back-up service provided by the MV Strangford which can be readied for service at a moment’s notice.

Seamus said safety is of paramount importance at all times, with crews regularly taking part in various safety training initiatives, including drills to rescue someone who may have fallen overboard.

“Rigorous checks are carried out before the first sailing every morning and there is a variety of on-board equipment which constantly manages the ferry’s performance, focusing on every aspect of its operation,” Seamus explained.

“Safety is paramount at all times. The MV Portaferry II is licensed to carry 260 passengers and we have that number of life jackets on board and life rafts to accommodate that number of people.”

Seamus said there is never any room for complacency and while passengers sit in their cars watching the view or climb the stairs for a bird’s eye view of Strangford Lough, crew members are always keeping an eye on things.

“We are all acutely aware of the potential dangers and our staff are all highly trained, very professional and thorough in what they do,” he continued.

Seamus said the only things the ferry crew cannot control is the weather and mechanical breakdowns and when these issues do arise, the aim is to deal with them as best they can. But he revealed breakdowns are rare, explaining that over the past nine months there hasn’t been one missed sailing.

The ferry manager said the crews pride themselves on leaving at the allotted time, but revealed there are exceptions, explaining that in the past crossings due to depart Strangford have been delayed to allow an ambulance answering a 999 call to reach a patient in Portaferry.