National Maritime Development Group announced the Cumbria County Council are seeking to award a tender for the design, build, launch, installation, commissioning, and acceptance of the new ferry, and associated elements.
The land-locked nature of Lake Windermere introduces several requirements and constraints specific to the new ferry.
Tender for the design and build of new ferry
The new ferry is to have increased car capacity, increased operating capability, improved passenger facilities and is to be fully electrically powered from onboard batteries.
The new ferry is to be a cable ferry, propelled by pulling herself along a pair of steel wire cables installed between the two slipways. The east slipway is located at Ferry Nab, Bowness-on-Windermere and the west slipway at Far Sawrey, and the ferry links the two parts of the B5285 on either side of Lake Windermere.
Procurement process to see shipyards submit designs
The procurement process will see shipyards across the country invited to submit their ideas and designs for the new ferry. The aim is to place an order with the successful shipyard in the autumn for delivery of the new ferry in spring 2024.