Published on
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Last month, during a Keel Laying event in Cammell Laird Birkenhead Shipyard. Mayor Steve Rotheram unveiled the name of the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years.
The Royal Daffodil will become the sixth Mersey Ferry to bear the name first used in the early 1900s when it enters service in the summer of 2026.
Steeped in centuries of maritime tradition, keel laying traditionally involved the mast being lowered on to a coin placed inside a newly built boat as a symbol of good fortune for the vessel and its crew. The days of large sailing ships are gone; however, the custom continues in modern shipbuilding and marks the beginning of full vessel assembly.
Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group, David McGinley joined Mayor Rotheram, as did many of the engineers, apprentices, project managers and teams who will be working on the brand-new boat.
Nurse Maguire was invited to lay the special commemorative coin on the new ferry’s keel block in recognition of the tireless and important work the charity does to support people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond. She was chosen thanks to her extraordinary efforts, and was nominated by Marie Curie, whose symbol is the daffodil.
The Royal Daffodil will offer a world-class experience for passengers thanks to improved accessibility, new seating areas and bars. The new boat will feature large, open plan decks as well as event spaces for corporate functions and private parties.
The new Mersey Ferry has been designed to harness state-of-the-art green technology, with a cutting-edge Azipod propeller system for reduced fuel usage, along with a diesel-electric hybrid-ready engine – with potential for future conversion to full electric propulsion as technology develops.
The design and name of the new Royal Daffodil will honour the rich heritage of the Mersey Ferries, with the exterior retaining the traditional white, black and red colour scheme of the historic fleet, while the interiors will be stylish and contemporary.