Royal Daffodil: Real pride as first new Mersey Ferry in 60 years takes to the water for the first time

Confirmed in 2023, construction began last Autumn on the first vessel to be built to cross the river since the 1960s.

The £26m Royal Daffodil emerged from the construction hall at Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead shipyard on the banks of the River Mersey in the early hours of this morning. The company, which has played a strategic role in UK shipbuilding for the past 200 years, is constructing the ferry on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Painted in the fleet’s historic red, white and black colours and with windows fitted, this morning marked the first test of the ferry’s capabilities. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said there was a “real civic pride” in the new vessel being showcased on the river.

In a carefully managed 24-hour operation, the Royal Daffodil was moved to the river’s edge to allow the incoming tide to slowly lift her clear and float the vessel for the very first time. She will then be tugged to the shipyard’s test basin where engineers will carry out further work ahead of full sea trials early next year.

Mr Rotheram said: “It’s a very proud day for the whole city region when you have a local workforce that’s built something in 10 months from scratch. Apprentices have worked on it, loads of people from the locality have worked on it.

“There’s a real civic pride in what’s been achieved and by summer next year, we’re going to see this running for passenger services and also for some corporate as well because we need to get some more revenues in to pay for it.”

The Royal Daffodil will remain in the basin until early 2026 for further fit-out work before beginning river trials. Once in service, she will offer improved accessibility, cleaner and greener operations, and a more comfortable experience for both commuters and visitors.

The Metro Mayor, who was at Cammell Laird this morning to witness the test, said: “I think people are going to be made up to see something like this. Ferries will be going on long after all of us are here and hopefully we’ll see a new generation of people wanting to travel on this because the spec is just outstanding and it genuinely is a bit like a cruise liner when you’re going to get on it because it’s all going to be enclosed.

“There is some outdoor space, just like previous ferries, but we want to accommodate more people inside because sometimes, believe it or not, the River Mersey gets a bit choppy.”

David McGinley, Chief Executive of the APCL Group, added: “The basin test is a vital stage in the shipbuilding process. It’s the first time a new vessel meets the water, and it allows us to confirm that everything performs as expected before she goes to sea.

“Seeing the Royal Daffodil afloat for the first time is a huge achievement for everyone involved in her construction. This is the 16th Mersey Ferry vessel we have constructed here in Cammell Laird on the banks of the Mersey and we our proud to continue our involvement in this world famous service.”