Skeleton of new Mersey Ferry complete as Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram sees funnel lowered into place
The last part of the Royal Daffodil's high-tech superstructure was completed at a special ceremony at Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead, with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram watching on.
The funnel is 3.6 metres tall and, weighing in at around 2.5 tonnes, will eventually be painted red in line with the world-famous Mersey Ferries' traditional red, white and black colour scheme.
Following this vital milestone all the mechanical and electric services will be added to bring the ferry into operation, and the interior of the boat will be fitted out, as well as the internal and external painting.
The Royal Daffodil is due to take to the water in 2026 and will be the first new addition to the Mersey Ferries fleet since the 1960s.
With state-of-the-art propulsion systems it will aim to be greener than its predecessors, offering improved environmental performance, greater accessibility, and enhanced comfort for passengers.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 'The Mersey Ferries are more than just a way to get from A to B – they're a symbol of our identity, heritage, and pride.
"Generations have grown up with them, and I'm determined to ensure they remain part of our future, too.
'Today's milestone isn't just about lowering a funnel – it's about raising expectations for what transport in our region can be: cleaner, greener, and built right here in our city region by local workers.
"The new Royal Daffodil will carry the spirit of the Mersey with her, and – as my friend Gerry Marsden once said – I can't wait to see this Ferry 'Cross the Mersey.'
The funnel is a crucial component of the ship, allowing exhaust from the three main engines to be safely expelled while supporting ventilation of the engine spaces.
Historic Wirral shipbuilder Cammell Laird has played a strategic role in UK shipbuilding for the past 200 years, and is constructing the £26m Royal Daffodil on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
David McGinley, CEO of APCL Group, said: 'Today marks a significant milestone in what is a landmark project, not just for APCL Cammell Laird but for shipbuilding in the wider Merseyside region.
"The installation of the funnel signals the completion of the Royal Daffodil's steel structure and brings us one step closer to delivering a vessel that combines innovation, heritage, and sustainability.
'This ferry is being built by our local workforce and apprentices, using local skills that has gone into every stage of its construction.'
'We look forward to completing the construction of the ferry and launching her on the river Mersey.'
John Drummond, Project Director at APCL Cammell Laird, said: 'Being entrusted with building the first new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years is a real honour – and a responsibility we take seriously.
'As we continue with the next phase of the build, including mechanical systems and interior fit out, we look forward to seeing this iconic vessel take to the water and serve future generations of passengers across the Mersey.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
27-06-2025
- ITV News
Skeleton of new Mersey Ferry complete as Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram sees funnel lowered into place
The skeleton of the first new Mersey ferry for 60 years is now complete after the funnel was lowered into place. The last part of the Royal Daffodil's high-tech superstructure was completed at a special ceremony at Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead, with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram watching on. The funnel is 3.6 metres tall and, weighing in at around 2.5 tonnes, will eventually be painted red in line with the world-famous Mersey Ferries' traditional red, white and black colour scheme. Following this vital milestone all the mechanical and electric services will be added to bring the ferry into operation, and the interior of the boat will be fitted out, as well as the internal and external painting. The Royal Daffodil is due to take to the water in 2026 and will be the first new addition to the Mersey Ferries fleet since the 1960s. With state-of-the-art propulsion systems it will aim to be greener than its predecessors, offering improved environmental performance, greater accessibility, and enhanced comfort for passengers. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 'The Mersey Ferries are more than just a way to get from A to B – they're a symbol of our identity, heritage, and pride. "Generations have grown up with them, and I'm determined to ensure they remain part of our future, too. 'Today's milestone isn't just about lowering a funnel – it's about raising expectations for what transport in our region can be: cleaner, greener, and built right here in our city region by local workers. "The new Royal Daffodil will carry the spirit of the Mersey with her, and – as my friend Gerry Marsden once said – I can't wait to see this Ferry 'Cross the Mersey.' The funnel is a crucial component of the ship, allowing exhaust from the three main engines to be safely expelled while supporting ventilation of the engine spaces. Historic Wirral shipbuilder Cammell Laird has played a strategic role in UK shipbuilding for the past 200 years, and is constructing the £26m Royal Daffodil on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. David McGinley, CEO of APCL Group, said: 'Today marks a significant milestone in what is a landmark project, not just for APCL Cammell Laird but for shipbuilding in the wider Merseyside region. "The installation of the funnel signals the completion of the Royal Daffodil's steel structure and brings us one step closer to delivering a vessel that combines innovation, heritage, and sustainability. 'This ferry is being built by our local workforce and apprentices, using local skills that has gone into every stage of its construction.' 'We look forward to completing the construction of the ferry and launching her on the river Mersey.' John Drummond, Project Director at APCL Cammell Laird, said: 'Being entrusted with building the first new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years is a real honour – and a responsibility we take seriously. 'As we continue with the next phase of the build, including mechanical systems and interior fit out, we look forward to seeing this iconic vessel take to the water and serve future generations of passengers across the Mersey.'
BBC News
25-06-2025
- BBC News
Furnace fired up at £53m St Helens' sustainable glass factory
An experimental furnace that can make glass and other materials using lower carbon fuels has been fired up for the first time at a £54m research facility on technology developed by manufacturer Glass Future is being tested inside a building on James Roby Way, St Helens that was developed by the firm to carry out industrial trials. It is capable of producing up to 30 tonnes of glass per day, including flat sheets used for windows, as well as Kelly, CEO of Glass Futures Ltd said he hoped the centre would "become a beacon for decarbonisation in energy-intensive industries". The 165,000 sq ft (5,0292 sq m) site currently employs about 60 people, but the firm said there could be the potential for another 40 Kelly said he believed there was no other facility in the world that could produce the glass products using "such a wide range of sustainable fuel sources, including electric melting".Glass Futures is a not-for-profit company that has received funding from central Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, pressed the button to light the furnace said the launch showed St Helens was "again at the cutting edge of global innovation" after boasting nearly two centuries of industrial heritage. David Baines, MP for St Helens North, said it was "a milestone moment" for the borough, which had a 250-year history of glass research and Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, described it as "a hugely exciting moment" for the town and a "huge step forward towards a sustainable future". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- The Independent
Let us tax visitors on overnight stays in England, mayors say
A coalition of mayors has called for powers to be given to local authorities to create visitor levies across England, in an attempt to boost tourist infrastructure and regional growth. The group of mayors from around the country, led by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, is calling on the government to grant devolved powers to allow regions to create a visitor levy, which could see a small charge added to overnight stays. Mr Rotheram said the overnight charges are 'the kind most of us wouldn't think twice about when travelling abroad' and 'would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special'. Other mayors have echoed his sentiment. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: 'A modest overnight accommodation levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London's reputation as a global tourism and business destination.' A similar law is already in place in Scotland, passed in 2024, which allows councils to tax overnight accommodation if they wish to do so. Edinburgh has already made headway with this power, voting in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. A bill has also been proposed by Welsh lawmakers to introduce a small visitor levy that could see visitors to the country paying up to £1.25 per night by 2027. The mayors say England is 'at risk of falling behind' as Scotland and Wales move ahead with their own tourism levies, so are calling for rapid action from the central government. The mayors have argued that the powers to create a visitor levy would unlock 'vital' funding for tourism and cultural infrastructure and drive regional growth, as well as reduce dependence on funding from the central government. English legislation does not allow cities to create a visitor levy; however, using legal workarounds has meant Liverpool and Manchester have introduced a form of tourism levy. The city councils both introduced a tourism-based Business Improvement District (BID), using existing legal power to establish a form of tourist tax that allows hoteliers to charge £1 (in Manchester) or £2 (in Liverpool) per night as part of a 'city visitor charge'. The mayors said that the BID visitor levy in Liverpool has received strong backing, while in Manchester, a recent survey revealed 70 per cent of tourists are willing to pay a small charge if it is used to visibly enhance tourism services. However, the local authorities are hoping to see devolved powers to create visitor levies written into law. The campaign is backed by the mayors of the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, London, the North East, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire. 'These regions collectively attract hundreds of millions of visitors annually and contribute billions to the UK economy,' the group said. 'Yet none currently benefit from a dedicated funding stream to reinvest in tourism resilience and growth.' The Liverpool City Region predicts that a visitor levy could raise nearly £11 million per year for the area from the over 60 million visitors it receives annually. Greater Manchester says that a £1 to £5 overnight tax could raise between £8 million and £40 million per year, which could help fund key infrastructures such as the regeneration of Old Trafford or airport development. Over in the capital, the group said tourism accounts for one in seven jobs and nearly 12 per cent of London's economy, whereas visitor economies stand at £6.1 billion in the North East and £16.3 billion in Birmingham.
