Windermere Ferry will be out of service for up to three weeks of works as the Council further invests in the reliability of ‘Mallard’.
From Monday 27 January until Friday 14 February, the ferry will receive a new engine, gearbox, deepwater seals and driveline improvements, amongst other routine checks as a part of a planned maintenance package.
Last year, Westmorland and Furness Council completed a significant inspection and refit of the ferry which saw significant upgrades, maintenance and enhancements. The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), the lead government agency responsible for ensuring maritime safety, approved the programme which secured the vessel’s licence to continue providing a service across Lake Windermere.
During the refit, the Council identified signs of wear on bespoke components of the vessel and recommended future replacements to improve reliability and minimise the risk of unplanned maintenance.
Due to a 16-week lead time for these custom parts, the replacements could not be completed within the five-week refit period. To minimise disruption, the Council has scheduled these final improvements to take place during low season, avoiding school holidays.
Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, Cllr Peter Thornton said: “Maintaining the reliability and safety of Windermere Ferry is a key priority for the Council. These final works will put the finishing touches on our significant investment aimed at delivering an efficient and dependable service across Lake Windermere for both residents and visitors.
“By scheduling these essential upgrades during the low season and outside school holidays, we are working to minimise disruption for our users.
“We appreciate your patience during this period and encourage everyone to sign up for our ferry user updates where we will share our progress.”
The Council’s significant investment programme started in December 2023 with modifications to the ferry’s ramps and the installation of longer chains. These upgrades have proven successful with no service interruptions caused by high lake levels throughout 2024.
Updates on the upcoming works programme will be shared via our daily service people can subscribe to at westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
