Torpoint Ferry Set for Major Refit – What It Means for Travellers

LYNHER Ferry to Be Taken Out of Service for Essential Maintenance

Preparations for the planned refit of the Torpoint ferry LYNHER are well underway, with the vessel due to be taken out of service on Monday, 24th March before being towed to Falmouth.

Ahead of this, the ferry will also be unavailable from 4th to 12th March for preliminary refit works.

What to Expect During the Refit

LYNHER is one of three chain ferries operated by Tamar Crossings, providing a 24-hour service for up to 8,000 vehicles and 1,500 pedestrians daily. Keeping these ferries running requires ongoing maintenance, much of which takes place while the vessels remain afloat. However, larger maintenance tasks and equipment upgrades can only be completed during dry-dock refits.

“The ferries can only be towed in relatively calm sea states and wind conditions,” explained Andrew Vallance, Interim General Manager for Tamar Crossings. “This means that adverse weather can, and has in the past, significantly impacted on the actual dates of the towing operations in both directions.”

Tamar Crossings is hoping for favourable conditions, but if the towing date changes, updates will be shared via the organisation’s website and social media channels.

Part of a Bigger Programme

The refit of LYNHER follows the 2023 refit of PLYM and 2024 refit of TAMAR, marking the completion of the current maintenance cycle. The work is expected to take up to eight weeks, with the ferry set to return to service by the end of May.

During this period, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyd’s Register will conduct their five-yearly dry-dock inspections to ensure the ferry meets compliance standards, is in good condition, and remains safe to operate.

Self-Financed Service

The Torpoint Ferry is the busiest inland waterway ferry crossing in the UK and, along with the Tamar Bridge, is jointly owned by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council.

The two crossings operate as a single business, Tamar Crossings, which is entirely self-funded through toll charges. Unlike some other ferry services in the UK, it does not receive any financial subsidy from local or central government.