Temporary passenger ferry service launched

Temporary passenger ferry service launched

16 October 2024

THE temporary passenger only Strangford ferry service launched on Monday morning and will be in place for the next five weeks.

All vehicle crossings have been suspended to allow essential heath and safety work to be carried out by the Department for Infrastructure.

The £300,000 scheme involves the removal and replacement of metal rails and areas of concrete before a new surface is provided at ferry slipways in Strangford and Portaferry.

The passenger only service is operating a reduced timetable with the DfI confirming it recognises the importance of the ferry service for local communities and understands the inconvenience the essential works will cause.

Ferry service users say the suspension will cause widespread disruption and inconvenience and hit them in the pocket as they face increased travel costs due to an 80-mile round trip by road.

Concern has also been voiced about the impact the suspension will have on workers, students, people attending hospital appointments in Downpatrick, businesses and visitors to the area.

Stormont DfI minister John O’Dowd said he understood concerns surrounding the temporary suspension of the crossing.

The Department said the scheme was “carefully considered”.

Officials say that following a review of passenger numbers, predicted tide times and the school holiday schedule — which includes a half-term break — the decision was taken to stop the service in mid-October to reduce disruption.

There are foot passenger sailings from Strangford between 7.30am and 11.30am and 2pm until 6pm from Monday to Friday, 8am to 11.30am and 2pm to 6.30pm on Saturday and 9.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 6.30pm on Sundays.

Sailings from Portaferry are 7.45am to 11.45am and 2.15pm to 6.45pm from Monday to Friday, 8.15am to 11.45am and 2.15pm to 6.45pm on Saturday and 9.45am and 11.45am and 2.15pm until 6.45pm on Sunday.

Only one passenger was using the 11.30am ferry yesterday morning.

Ballyhornan’s Michael Kelly disembarked at Strangford, having met a friend for breakfast in Portaferry.

Asked if he found the change disruptive, he said: “Not at all. It is straightforward enough. You just feel a bit more of the movement of the water on the smaller boat.”

Michael said he was a regular user of the ferry but never used his car when he travelled on the service a few times a week.

One change, said Mr Kelly, was that there was a better view of the marine life. “You get to see the dolphins a lot closer in that wee boat.”

Meanwhile, Portaferry councillor Joe Boyle has been appointed to chair the Strangford Ferry Consultative Committee.

The membership includes DfI officials responsible for the ferry service with the new committee working alongside Ards and North Down and Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials and elected representatives.

“We have come together as the ferry service straddles both sides of Strangford Lough and neighbouring communities on both sides experience the same problems and issues,” said Cllr Boyle.

“This is an opportunity to discuss and monitor the failures and successes of the overall service in place, its impact on areas such as Strangford and Portaferry and to highlight where we as elected representatives, listening to the users and constituents, can make recommendations to potentially improve the overall service.”

Cllr Boyle said he welcomed the committee structure in place, with the regularity of meetings determined by any new ideas, updates and operational matters, along with the seasonal activity taking place.