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23/10/2001
Strangford ferry completes sea trials
The new £2.7 million Strangford Lough ferry – the MV Portaferry II – was formally handed over to the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service on Tuesday October 23 by shipbuilders McTay Marine of Merseyside.
The purpose-built craft successfully completed final trials in Strangford Lough and will come into service on the Portaferry to Strangford route once staff training and familiarisation has been completed during the next six weeks.
Grahame Fraser, acting chief executive of DRD Roads Service, said: “We are delighted to take delivery of this new ferry which we hope will provide passengers with an improved and more comfortable journey on Strangford Lough.
“The significant investment in this new vessel reflects Roads Service’s continued commitment to ensuring this area has a safe and reliable ferry service which is vitally important to the social and commercial development of this area.”
Ferry Manager, Derek Pedlow, who also welcomed the vessel’s arrival said: “The ferry service has always had a good reliability record, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the MV Portaferry which is now about 40 years old.”
The new vessel will replace the smaller MV Strangford as the main vessel on the busy crossing and can carry 28 cars compared to the present 20.
The MV Strangford will assume a standby and support role when the new vessel is being serviced, and will also operate during the peak traffic periods in the summer months.
An official naming ceremony will take place later this year. (AMcE)
The purpose-built craft successfully completed final trials in Strangford Lough and will come into service on the Portaferry to Strangford route once staff training and familiarisation has been completed during the next six weeks.
Grahame Fraser, acting chief executive of DRD Roads Service, said: “We are delighted to take delivery of this new ferry which we hope will provide passengers with an improved and more comfortable journey on Strangford Lough.
“The significant investment in this new vessel reflects Roads Service’s continued commitment to ensuring this area has a safe and reliable ferry service which is vitally important to the social and commercial development of this area.”
Ferry Manager, Derek Pedlow, who also welcomed the vessel’s arrival said: “The ferry service has always had a good reliability record, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the MV Portaferry which is now about 40 years old.”
The new vessel will replace the smaller MV Strangford as the main vessel on the busy crossing and can carry 28 cars compared to the present 20.
The MV Strangford will assume a standby and support role when the new vessel is being serviced, and will also operate during the peak traffic periods in the summer months.
An official naming ceremony will take place later this year. (AMcE)
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