#NewPortaFERRY -A newbuild for the Strangford-Portaferry service under construction at Cammel Laird, Birkenhead as previously reported on Afloat.ie is expected to deliver the 28 car / 260 passenger ferry in August this year.

According to Cammel Laird’s winter edition newsletter, the project is running on schedule with 75% of the vessel structurally complete. The yard facing opposite Liverpool’s famous waterfront on the Mersey, saw Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development Michelle McIlveen view the progress on the newbuild Strangford Ferry which is to serve the lough route at the Narrows.

The Minister said: “It is really impressive to see the progress being made by Cammell Laird on the new ferry. The build is on schedule and I look forward to seeing the new vessel in operation by late summer 2016. This £6 million investment by the NI Executive will see the replacement of the existing MV Strangford, which is now over 40 years old. The new modern ferry has been designed specifically for this important route and will provide a more reliable and efficient ferry service for the public in the years ahead.”

The newbuild’s pipework and machinery is now being fitted, with all key equipment now on site and undergoing installation. This includes 2 Cummins engines, 2 Voith propulsion units, 2 Cummins generator sets, a Hamworthy Sewage Treatment Plant, and a full Desmi pump set.

A passenger Lounge, changing rooms, crew mess and wheelhouse have now been installed. There are currently 50 workers on the project, with over 20% of this number being made up by apprentices. A further 4 second year apprentices are expected to have joined the project in the new year to gain some invaluable new-build experience.

The newbuild met her ‘sister’, Portaferry II, for the first time in November when the vessel returned to the Mersey for her first dry docking in 14 years since being launched onto the Mersey.

Afloat, adds that this also took place on the Wirral Peninsula, when the newbuild was then completed at the nearby McTay Marine yard at Bromborough.

While the new ferry is a completely new design, many of the successful design features on the Portaferry II are reflected in it notably having the same car and passenger capacity. The two ferries will together run on the Strangford-Portaferry service operated by Transport NI.

Afloat also adds that taking place of Portaferry II's roster on the short estuary crossing is the reserve ferry, Strangford.