Higher Ferry Times (Dartmouth North Embankment to Kingswear Britannia Halt)

Monday to Saturday 0630 - 2245

Sundays 0800 - 2245

Dartmouth Regatta Ferry times are Thursday - Saturday: 0630 - 2345

The higher ferry disembarks cars to avoid entering Kingswear itself.

Works at the Dartmouth Higher Ferry Slipways, and the Intruduction of a new Vessel (pictured above) in 2009

The present Higher Ferry has been in operation since 1960 and is now approaching the end of its working life. In January 2006, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency issued its final Operating Certificate – which expires in July.

The contract to build a new vessel was awarded to Pendennis Shipyard, at Falmouth, on November 2007. The hull of the new ferry has been constructed in Holland and is expected to arrive in Falmouth shortly.

It is due to be delivered to Dartmouth on 10th June – and will enter service around 16th June.

During the life of the present ferry (49 years), road traffic in the UK has doubled. The life of the new ferry is expected to also be around 50 years – and the owners are taking the necessary steps to “future-proof” the new vessel. It will have a nominal capacity of 32 cars (as opposed to the present 18) and 250 passengers. Crossing times will be reduced by 25%. A substantial reduction of the present queuing-time is envisaged.

Main propulsion will be provided by a pair of hydraulically driven “bull wheels” on each side which pull the ferry along two steel wires which will be anchored to each side of the river. This design will be much quieter and efficient than the present paddle-driven design. Four thrusters will provide additional manoeuvrability to correct vessel alignment when required e.g. strong wind or tidal conditions. Simultaneous loading/unloading of the new vessel, together with a new traffic-management system on the Dartmouth side of the river, will ensure a quick turnaround time. A new ticketing system, using Bluetooth technology, will also streamline the operation.

A midship central control room will be fitted above the car deck to provide a driving position with good visibility. Along one side, accommodation compartments will be created as a store, locker room, wet room, crew office and passenger room. Power will be provided by two engines, Scania DI 1262EM (rated at 280kW each), of which only one will be required for normal operation. These engines are exceptionally quiet, fuel-efficient - and have particularly low levels of carbon emission. Although the vessel’s construction will allow it to carry vehicles of up to 20 tonnes, the owners only intend to carry vehicles of up to 16 tonnes – as was the situation prior to 2001.

The new ferry will be approximately 10 metres longer and 6 metres wider than the existing vessel. The present slipways are now being upgraded in readiness for the new ferry. The Dartmouth slipway will be widened marginally along its northern edge. The historic ‘lifeboat’ slip (damaged some years ago during construction work by BT) will be sympathetically restored to preserve its heritage. The new ferry will float 20cms deeper that the existing vessel; a modest amount of dredging on the Dartmouth side is presently being considered.