Royal Daffodil Starts Work as First New Mersey Ferry Since 1960s
A new ferry is now running on the River Mersey. The Royal Daffodil has officially entered service, the first new addition to the Mersey Ferries fleet in more than 60 years.
A boat for work and for sightseeing
The £26m vessel arrived on Merseyside in September. It was tested in sea trials and on passenger outings first. One of those trips carried the prime minister.
Now the Royal Daffodil will run regular commuter crossings between Liverpool and the Wirral. It will also take on sightseeing and evening cruises.
Facilities on the ferry
Passengers get a lounge and catering facilities, plus open decks and panoramic windows.
There is an on-board lift, which matters for anyone who cannot manage stairs. Charging points for USB devices, facilities for changing babies and cycle parking are also fitted.
Timing after a service gap
The launch comes after several weeks with no commuter crossings between Liverpool and the Wirral. The cause was technical problems with the Snowdrop.
It is not clear whether the new ferry will take over the Snowdrop's timetable or run alongside it.
Rotheram on the ferry's future
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram linked the new vessel to the future of the whole service. He said there is a responsibility to "protect these iconic ferries for future generations", and called the Royal Daffodil the next step in doing that.
He also stressed where she was made. In his words, she was "built right here on the banks of the Mersey in Birkenhead", bringing shipbuilding heritage together with modern passenger facilities.
Our view
A single new boat cannot fix every gap in a ferry service, and the recent weeks without commuter crossings were a reminder that the service depends on its boats being fit to sail. The useful test is simple: how reliably the Royal Daffodil runs the morning and evening commuter crossings now that she has taken them on.
Source: BBC News