The £26m Royal Daffodil was launched in Liverpool on 22 September, marking the first new ship built for the Mersey Ferries fleet in 60 years. It is expected to begin carrying passengers in early autumn, but no start date has been confirmed.
Built at Wirral’s Cammell Laird shipyard, now named Balaena Birkenhead, the ferry has a lounge, bars, adjustable panoramic windows, a café and cycle parking. Mersey Ferries runs weekday commuter crossings between Seacombe and Liverpool, as well as sightseeing cruises.
A ballot selected passengers for a special public inaugural cruise on Saturday ahead of the official launch. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority says the investment is part of a wider transport transformation, including hundreds of new buses, a £50m train fleet, new railway stations, contactless ticketing and franchised bus services in St Helens.
