Strangford ferry ready after £12,000 repair job

Strangford ferry ready after £12,000 repair job

1 February 2017

STRANGFORD’S new £6m ferry will be operational shortly.

Modifications costing £12,000 have been carried out to the vessel’s entry ramps after a design flaw prevented vehicles from driving off at high tide. Transport NI is currently waiting on the all-clear from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to press the vessel into service.

The Agency, which recently asked for additional safety railings and signs to provided on the ferry, must issue a passenger certificate before it can start operating on the busy route.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard, has formally introduced the new ferry which will replace the MV Strangford which has been transporting vehicles and passengers across the waterway for almost 50 years and has reached the end of its operational life.

“I am delighted to introduce the new Strangford ferry which represents a significant investment for the people in Co Down,” said Mr Hazzard.

“The ferry is a state-of-the-art vessel that will ensure that the people in the Strangford and Portaferry areas, as well as visitors to the area, can be assured of a reliable service between both villages for many years to come.”

Mr Hazzard said the new ferry is equipped with the latest technology in terms of marine engineering and ease of maintenance. He said it also provides a comfortable passenger lounge for the short journey between Strangford and Portaferry.

The Infrastructure Minister confirmed the vessel will go into service shortly once the passenger certificate has been obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, with the new ferry operating alongside the MV Portaferry II.

The new ferry arrived in Strangford last October with the problem with the ramps at high tide coming to light during extensive sea trials. The upgrade work was carried out in dry dock by engineers from the Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside where the vessel was built.

The Department for Infrastructure, which is responsible for the ferry crossing between Strangford and Portaferry, insists while the new ferry was built to the highest standards of design and workmanship, a number of minor issues needed to be resolved before the vessel could be put into service. 

It said the new ferry’s specification required it to be designed to handle the tidal requirements at Strangford Lough and that while the delay in the new service was regrettable, health and safety issues must always take priority.