VESSEL REVIEW | Royal Daffodil – Diesel-electric ferry and sightseeing boat for operation on UK's River Mersey

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's (LCRCA) new passenger ferry Royal Daffodil entered regular service on the River Mersey in the UK on November 3. She operates morning and evening commuter crossings, the 50-minute Liverpool Sightseeing Cruise, and evening cruises for Mersey Ferries.

Built by Balaena (formerly Cammell Laird) in Birkenhead at a cost of £26 million (US$29 million), she is the first ferry built for the service in more than 60 years.

She replaces Royal Iris of the Mersey, the former Mountwood of 1959, which was withdrawn from service in March 2026, and joins Snowdrop in the fleet.

Royal Daffodil’s introduction followed several weeks without commuter crossings due to technical problems with Snowdrop. The LCRCA has described the vessel as the sixth Mersey ferry to carry the Royal Daffodil name.

Propulsion delivering enhanced manoeuvrability

The new ferry has an LOA of 49.9 metres (164 feet), a length between perpendiculars of 48.8 metres (160 feet), a moulded beam of 12 metres (39 feet), a maximum draught of only 2.6 metres (8.5 feet), a moulded depth of 4.35 metres (14.3 feet), a deadweight of 218, and a gross tonnage of 1,037.

The vessel is classed by Lloyd's Register for River Mersey service within a line from Formby Point to Point of Ayr in summer. Passenger-free voyages to a port for survey are permitted in conditions of up to Sea State four and no more than 12 nautical miles from the coast.

The diesel-electric vessel is fitted with two Schottel SRE 210 azimuthing thrusters, both in the embedded L-Drive configuration. A Schottel STT 110 transverse thruster supplements them.

Schottel said the redundant arrangement is intended for the River Mersey's tidal conditions, dense traffic, and frequent berthing. The manufacturer added that the compact electric units reduce machinery space requirements, noise, and vibration.

Public transport operator Merseytravel has referred to three main engines exhausting through the 3.6-metre (12-foot), 2.5-tonne funnel, which also ventilates the machinery spaces. The ferry reached 17 knots on trials against an expected service speed of 12 knots.

The SeaKing Group supplied the full electrical package, including the main switchboards.

Can accommodate a hybrid arrangement or low-emission fuels in future

The LCRCA's February 2024 strategy report said the design leaves room to add batteries at later time, resulting in a hybrid drive system. It also allows for operation on future low-emission alternative fuels such as biodiesel or hydrogen.

The control system provides automated assistance, unlike in older ferries, which depended on manual control inputs and throttle adjustments to turn. Captains trained on a digital simulation of the Mersey at Liverpool John Moores University and gained practical experience on Lake Windermere.

Ample passenger amenities

The passenger spaces feature a main deck lounge, licensed bars on both passenger decks, and adjustable panoramic windows. There is also an aft lounge that can accommodate up to 40 guests and that has its own private viewing deck.

Two staircases and a lift link the decks, and an open upper deck has timber bench seating. Bicycle parking, USB charging ports, and changing facilities for infants are also provided.

The LCRCA awarded the newbuilding contract on December 13, 2023. Royal Daffodil’s keel was laid on January 10, 2025, and funnel installation on June 27 that year completed the 327-tonne steel structure. The vessel was floated out on November 6, 2025. River trials began on April 16, 2026, including berthing at Seacombe and Pier Head.

The ferry was named at Liverpool's Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal on September 22 and made her first public cruise four days later.