Editing Mersey Ferry (section)

==Future==
{{Update section|date=April 2025}}
In August 2012, it was announced that Merseytravel were initiating a review into cost saving on Mersey Ferries operations after the service is running at a £1{{nbsp}}million annual loss.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-19402586|title=Mersey Ferries to be reviewed over £1m yearly losses|publisher=BBC News|date=28 August 2012|access-date=11 May 2013}}</ref> As a result of this review, the ferry ''Royal Daffodil'' was withdrawn from service in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-19839352|title=Mersey Ferries to remove one of three services|publisher=BBC News|date=5 October 2012|access-date=11 May 2013}}</ref> Another threat to the ferries' future is the cost of replacing the current ferries, the oldest ever to ply the river, when required.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

In December 2015 Merseytravel announced a 20-year plan for the ferries which included the possible closure of one of the two Wirral landing stages (possibly Woodside), a later start to commuter services which only operate from Seacombe to Liverpool, and one or two new vessels with better ability to hold social functions or musical events, a facility not available since the disposal of the 1951 ''Royal Iris''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35112783 |title=Mersey ferry terminal could close, 20-year plan reveals|publisher=BBC News|date=16 December 2015|access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

The Mersey Ferries Long Term Strategy, whilst currently subject to approval, anticipates that a naval architect will be appointed with the intention of having a new vessel ready for service in 2020–21. The vessel will be used as the main day to day vessel with ''Snowdrop'' used as a secondary vessel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Agenda and draft minutes Merseytravel Committee Thursday, 3rd November, 2016 2.00 pm|url=http://moderngov.merseytravel.uk.net/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=326&MId=1492|website=moderngov.merseytravel.uk.net|publisher=Merseytravel|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

In January 2018, the [[Mayor of the Liverpool City Region]], [[Steve Rotheram]] announced that plans had been drawn up for a new vessel. The announcement stated that naval architects had prepared initial designs and there would be a period of public consultation on the designs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Lorna|title=Plans for a new ferry to cross the Mersey|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/plans-new-ferry-cross-mersey-14201040|website=Liverpool Echo|access-date=28 January 2018|date=25 January 2018}}</ref>

Plans were announced in August 2019 for two new low-carbon ferries to be built and for improvement works to take place at Seacombe ferry terminal by using a share of a £172{{nbsp}}million 'Transforming Cities Fund'.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Mersey Ferry could be in service by January 2022 |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/new-mersey-ferry-service-january-2022/ |access-date=31 August 2019 |work=Liverpool Business News |date=30 August 2019}}</ref>  In November 2022 a contract for one new vessel was placed jointly with Cammell Laird and Netherlands shipbuilders [[Damen Group]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=New Mersey Ferry announcement |url= https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/blog/other/new-ferry-announcement/|location=Liverpool |publisher= Mersey Ferries|agency= |date= 8 November 2022|access-date=2023-01-08}}</ref>