Mersey Ferry Set for Retirement After 67 Years of Service

A ferry that has served generations of passengers on the River Mersey is set to be withdrawn after nearly seven decades on the water.

Operator Mersey Ferries announced that the Royal Iris of the Mersey will be decommissioned as it prepares to introduce a new £26m vessel, the Royal Daffodil, to the fleet later this year.

Built in Devon and launched in 1959 as Mountwood, the vessel served under that name until undergoing a major refit in 2001. She returned to service the following year with a new identity after an extensive refurbishment.

The ferry has long been a familiar sight on sightseeing sailings, carrying visitors on River Explorer Cruises, journeys along the Manchester Ship Canal and popular evening trips.

In a statement, the operator said the ship had already entered the formal decommissioning process and encouraged the public to take a final voyage while there is still time. Plans to commemorate the vessel’s retirement are under consideration, with details expected to be announced later.

Ferry crossings on the Mersey date back centuries, forming a vital link across the river long before modern commuter and leisure services began operating in the 20th century. Historical records indicate that organised crossings were running as early as the 12th century, when Benedictine monks managed transport between the river’s banks.