The vital ferry link for Cobh and Passage West, located in lower Cork Harbour, where thousands of people use the cross-river service, can look forward to a brand-new experience from next year, reports CorkBeo
As a new custom-built hybrid ferry for the Lee Estuary service will have an increased vehicle capacity, allowing up to 34 cars to cross the short (5-minute) link between Glenbrook, Passage West, and Garrigaloe on Great Island, where Cobh is located.
The new €4 million ferry will be built downriver of Carrigaloe at Rushbrooke near Cobh by the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG), which Afloat adds is owned by Cross River Ferries. Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks at the historic former Verolme Cork Dockyard (where DSG owns the site with a dry-dock facility) and should be completed by the end of 2027.
Commenting on the announcement, County Councillor for Cobh, Dom Finn, said: “This is most welcome news and shows a significant investment to ensure that the cross-river ferry service is maintained and will also provide an efficient service for so many people who rely on the ferry on a daily basis.”
The service operates 7 days a week, including bank holidays, from 6:30 am to 09:30 pm each day, and booking isn’t required. It costs €9 for a one-way car ticket or €3 for a one-way pedestrian ticket, and payment can be made on board.
As Afloat previously reported, the service is run by veteran twin former Isle of Skye double-ended 225-ton ferries that were built in Newport, Wales, for the Caledonian Steam Packet Co., which would later become Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), owned by Scottish Ministers.
The elder twin, Carrigaloe, dates to 1970, and the Glenbrook was built the following year; each carries 27 cars and 200 passengers and has served the link since 1993.
DSG also operates three smaller passenger-only ferries, including the Spike Island ferry based out of Cobh.
