Duck Boat Takes To Lagan

Belfast is to operate its own 'Duck Boat Tours'.

Starting soon, passengers will climb aboard the duck boat on land and then splash into the River Lagan to continue their journey.

As previously reported on www.4ni.co.uk, the Belfast Splash Tour will carry up to 28 people, including two crew, on a 30 ft Hydra Terra vessel which will depart from Chichester Street (Victoria Square) and will head eastwards to the Ravenhill Reach Slipway where the craft will enter the water.

Exiting at the Ravenhill Reach Slipway, the tour will continue taking in many of the cities landmarks before returning to Chichester Street.

It is envisaged that there will be five tours a day and each tour will last for approximately 60 minutes. The tours are scheduled to begin mid April.

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, announced the innovation, and said the new Splash Tours attraction will see Belfast join major cities across the world in providing visitors with the opportunity to experience travel through the city by land and water.

"The Belfast Splash Tour is a fantastic addition to the tourist attractions already on offer in Belfast.

"This tour will open up the River Lagan to thousands of people and provide a view of Belfast that they would not normally see.

"My Department has invested heavily over the past number of years in the River Lagan to create an attractive environment that will encourage investment, and provide a facility that people will want to use," she said, noting that the Department for Social Development, will have statutory responsibility for designated areas of the River Lagan, and will be responsible for providing a licence to operate the tour.

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(BMcC/GK)