MV Portaferry II
,_August_2009.JPG)
MV Portaferry II coming to dock in Strangford
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MV Portaferry II |
| Owner: | NI Department for Infrastructure |
| Operator: | Transport NI |
| Builder: | McTay Marine, Merseyside, United Kingdom |
| Yard number: | 127 |
| Launched: | 2001 |
| In service: | 18 December 2001 |
| Homeport: | Belfast |
| Identification: |
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| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 312 GT |
| Length: | 38.2 m (125 ft) |
| Beam: | 14.56 m (47.8 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Capacity: | 260 passengers, 20 cars |
MV Portaferry II is a passenger and car ferry operated by Transport NI. This ferry serves the Portaferry–Strangford ferry route across the mouth of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, a service which has been in operation since the 12th century.
After years of service, MV Strangford Ferry, which was launched on 6 September 1969, began to show signs of age. A second, smaller ship, MV Portaferry Ferry, also operating on the Portaferry - Strangford route, had insufficient capacity to take over full service for route, so a new ship was needed. This new vessel was the Portaferry II, built by McTay Marine of Merseyside, at a cost of a £2.7 million. She entered service on 18 December 2001, replacing the aging MV Portaferry Ferry and relegated the MV Strangford Ferry, to a support role.
The Portaferry II has a gross tonnage of 312 tons, a hull length of 38.2 metres (125 ft), a beam of 14.56 metres (47.8 ft), a draught of 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) and a capacity of 260 passengers and 20 cars. She is propelled by a pair of Voith Schneider propellors, driven by diesel engines, and is registered in Belfast.
Like her predecessors, due to the short travel time the only onboard facilities are a passenger waiting area and a gangway on one side of the ship with benches and placards to inform readers of the lough's wildlife.
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Wikipedia