By
Rebecca Gibson |
Liverpool-based Cammell Laird shipyard is to build a £5.7 million car and passenger ferry for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Contracted by Northern Ireland’s Department for Regional Development, the Liverpool-based shipyard and marine engineering company will deliver the newbuild in August 2016.
“We are very pleased to have been awarded the contract for the construction of the new Strangford Ferry,” said Rob McBurney, commercial director of Cammell Laird. “The company has a long tradition of shipbuilding and we look forward to working with the department over the coming years.”
Designed to accommodate 260 passengers and 28 cars, the ferry will replace the existing Strangford ferry, which has reached the end of her 40-year lifecycle. The ferry will sail between Strangford and Portaferry in County Down, Northern Ireland, operating on a rotational basis with Portaferry II. This will increase capacity on the route and eliminate the need for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction that is enforced when the current Strangford is in service.
“The Department for Regional Development currently operates a vehicle ferry service in Strangford Lough between Strangford and Portaferry with two vehicle ferries and a back-up passenger ferry,” said Danny Kennedy, Transport Minister. “The new ferry will replace the existing Strangford which is over 40 years old and is approaching the end of its economically operational life.”
Kennedy also added that good progress has been made to secure a tender for a new ferry for Rathlin. Tender documents have been issued to a shortlist of ship builders and the contract is expected to be awarded this April.