First look at new Mersey Ferry ahead of launch

Images of the exterior of the first new Mersey Ferry to be built in more than 60 years have been released.

The £26m vessel will include state of the art navigation and steering systems, bike storage, large open plan decks and spaces for events and functions.

It will retain the fleet's traditional red, black and white colour scheme and false funnel in a nod to Mersey Ferries' heritage, alongside a contemporary interior.

The new accessible boat is being built by Birkenhead shipbuilder Cammell Laird and is due to go into service by summer 2026.

It has been described by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram as "visually striking", with "a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary design".

"The world-famous Mersey Ferries have served the people of the Liverpool City Region for over 800 years," said Rotheram.

He said investment was also being made into the Seacombe and Woodside terminals in Wirral "to ensure the ferries remain a unique attraction on the River Mersey for generations to come".

Rotheram said the new ferry was "as iconic as the Liver Building or the Cammell Laird shipyard where it will be built".

The first ferries to take people across the Mersey were operated in the 13th Century by the monks of Birkenhead Priory.

David McGinley, head of Cammell Laird's parent company, APCL Group said: "Construction of the new ferry is now well underway, and the vessel is really starting to take shape."

He said they were working "around the clock to make these images a reality".

A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson said it would also encompass cutting edge green technologies to help reduce its environmental impact.

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