Chain ferry to close for seven-week major refit

1 hour ago

News image — The last crossing will be at 23:10 on 1 November before the seven-week shut-down

Malc McDonald Ferry workers close the gates to the open-deck, roll-on roll-off, chain ferry at sunset, as it prepares to cross the entrance to Poole Harbour. — The last crossing will be at 23:10 on 1 November before the seven-week shut-down

A chain ferry will be out of action for seven weeks while it undergoes a major refit.

Sandbanks Ferry, which links Poole and Studland, in Dorset, will be shut from Monday 2 November.

The final service will leave Shell Bay for Sandbanks at 23:10 GMT on 1 November.

The refit works will be carried out at Poole Quay and in Falmouth, Cornwall, with the seven-week schedule subject to weather and sea conditions.

The scheduled maintenance works take place every two years, alternating between major and minor refits. The last major refit took place in 2022.

David Martin Cars and vans pack the deck of Sandbanks Ferry as it crosses the mouth of Poole Harbour. The vessel is white with a single ground-level car deck and two raised passenger decks either side. — Parts are ordered a year in advance to minimise the ferry's time out of service

General manager Wayne Row thanked passengers for their understanding, adding: "Our team works exceptionally hard to prepare for refit years.

"The team makes any repairs that are possible to do while the ferry is on the water, while out-of-water refit works tackle more complex processes around long-term structural integrity and regulatory compliance.

"Parts for the refit are also ordered at least a year in advance, with sections and systems prefabricated, helping reduce the overall time the ferry needs to be out of service.

"We appreciate the ferry is part of the critical transport network. We're doing everything we can to ensure works are both thorough and efficient, so we can be back on the chains quickly."

Sandbanks Ferry crosses the mouth of Poole Harbour in about four minutes, saving passengers a journey of up to 25-miles (40km) by road.