Funnel is installed on new £26m Mersey Ferry at Cammell Laird which will initially belch out diesel fumes when its sets sail in 2026 – so how will the vessel fit in with Liverpool city region’s net zero targets. Tony McDonough reports

A Mersey Ferry without a funnel wouldn’t look quite right and so it was a reassuring sight to see the 14-metre high, 2.5-tonne funnel installed on the new vessel at Cammell Laird.

Skilled workers and apprentices at the Birkenhead shipyard are making good progress on the £26m ferry which is scheduled to come into service on the River Mersey in summer 2026, replacing one of the existing ferries, Royal Iris and Snowdrop.

Called Royal Daffodil, the ferry’s steel superstructure is now also complete. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram was there on Friday to see the funnel lowered into place. It will eventually be painted red in line with the usual colour scheme.

“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,” said the Mayor.

However, funnels equal fumes and when Royal Daffodil enters service next summer it will be powered by marine diesel, a fuel typically dirtier than the petrol that goes into cars and considerably more toxic when expelled into the air.

Of course burning diesel also means CO2 emissions, something the Liverpool City Region has pledged to minimise as it sets the ambitious target of a net zero city region by 2035.

When commissioning the vessel the Combined Authority decided against an all-electric ferry, a decision likely based on higher cost of construction and the extra expense of having to install charging infrastructure on the Mersey, where ship-to-shore power is not yet available.

There are electric vessel investments elsewhere. Wightlink is planning to introduce an all-electric, high-speed catamaran on the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head route and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers operates an all-electric cross-river ferry.

Although Royal Daffodil will initially burn diesel it is being future-proofed so it can be converted to run entirely on electric at a later date.

Cammell Laird, which has previously built 15 Mersey Ferries dating back to 1836, is installing a diesel-electric hybrid-ready engine, designed to be adaptable for future conversion to full electric propulsion.

Royal Daffodil will also be using the Azipod propeller system. This is a gearless, steerable propulsion unit where an electric motor is housed in a pod submerged outside the ship’s hull. It enhances fuel efficiency by improving maneuverability and reducing energy waste.

LBN has asked the Combined Authority for the projected emissions of the new ferry compared to the existing vessels and we will update this article when that information becomes available.

This will be the first new ferry introduced onto the Mersey in more than 60 years. Both Royal Iris and Snowdrop have struggled at times under the workload of daily crossings, river cruises, special trips out into the bay and voyages up the Manchester Ship Canal.

LBN understands a decision on which ferry will get the chop has been made but the Combined Authority has yet to make a public announcement. The surviving boat will undergo an extensive overhaul to prolong its life.

Mr Rotheram added: “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.”

Royal Daffodil will offer improved accessibility – including a lift, allowing easy access to the upper deck – new seating areas and bars. The vessel will feature large open plan decks as well as event spaces for corporate functions and private parties.

READ MORE: £150,000 appeal to save historic steam tug ‘The Danny’

David McGinley, chief executive of Cammell Laird parent company, APCL Group, said: “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.”