Name MV Portaferry II In service 18 December 2001 Identification IMO 9237436 | Yard number 127 Homeport Liverpool Launched 2001 | |
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Owner Roads Service Northern Ireland | ||
MV Portaferry II is a passenger ferry operated by Roads Service Northern Ireland. This ferry serves the Portaferry - Strangford Ferry route which has been in operation since the 12th century.
Contents
Route
The ship traverses the 0.6 nautical mile (1.1 km) journey between Portaferry and Strangford in about 8 minutes daily with a regular timetable.
History
After years of service, MV Strangford, which was launched on 6 September 1969, began to show signs of age. A second, smaller ship, MV Portaferry, also operating on the Portaferry - Strangford route, had insufficient capacity to take over full service for route, so a new ship was needed. In 2001 the MV Portaferry II replaced the aging MV Portaferry and relegated the earlier vessel, MV Strangford, to a support role. A 2011 opinion piece, "Ards Peninsula Facing Hardship During Ferry Refit," suggests that there is local interest in maintaining a backup transportation option for MV Portaferry II
Crossing times
The ferry takes around 8 minutes to cross the mouth of the lough. The ferry can take up to 25 minutes during busy times or storms. Due to the shape of the lough, the tidal speed can cancel sailings.
Onboard
Like her predecessors, due to the short travel time the only onboard facilities are a passenger waiting area and a gangway at each side of the ship with benches and placards to inform readers of the area's wildlife.