Windermere has been used as a training ground for the crew of the first new ferry to be built for the River Mersey in 60 years.
Windermere Lake Cruises’ Swift which is about to celebrate five years in operation has welcomed crews from Merseyside in recent months.
The aim is that they become familiar with a new propulsion system that will feature in the Royal Daffodil, a £26m vessel which is under construction at the Cammell Laird shipyard.
The new ferry will make use of the same Azipod propulsion system as Swift which is very different from traditional propellor-powered craft.
The same hybrid-ready engines in use on the Windermere ferry will also be installed.
“The late, great, Gerry Marsden immortalised the ‘ferry ‘cross the Mersey’ and they’re a part of who we are,” Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said.
“The Royal Daffodil is the next chapter in that story – cleaner, greener, and built right here on the banks of the Mersey. It’s a real symbol of the pride, innovation and graft that make our area special.”
Unlike the traditional 60-year-old propulsion used on the current Mersey ferries which requires manual engagement and throttle management for turning the new system supports captains with automated control for safer and more efficient navigation.
While a simulator at Liverpool John Moores University has allowed captains to rehearse emergency stops, precision docking, tight manoeuvring, and multi-weather scenarios, on a realistic digital version of the River Mersey they have also had real life experience on Windermere.
“We’ve been able to help crews see for themselves how Swift handles on Windermere and the benefits the propulsion system will bring to the River Mersey,” Nigel Wilkinson, managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, said. “We look forward to seeing the new ferry at work.”
The Royal Daffodil is due to be launched next year but Mersey Ferries say captains will continue to operate both new and existing vessels.
Meanwhile this weekend the Swift will mark five years in service during which time it has carried 901,000 people and travelled over 61,000 nautical miles.
To mark its anniversary, MV Swift will be travelling between Bowness and Ambleside, departing Bowness at 09.50 on the outbound journey.
Joining MV Swift on the anniversary cruise will be one of Cumbria’s other biggest brands, Grasmere Gingerbread.
Rosie Danagher, tourism marketing and heritage manager, will be dressed in traditional Victorian costume and handing out pieces of the spicy-sweet treat to passengers between Bowness and Ambleside.
Rosie will be joining the cruise at 9.50am in Bowness and departing in Bowness at 11.05am.
