| Since the Mersey Ferries moved their Liverpool base to the Cruise Liner Terminal in autumn 2010 to facilitate the installation of the new Mersey Ferries Terminal at the Pier Head, the ships have from time to time suffered from damaged rubbing strake plating. The fenders on the cruise stage, whilst ideal for for modern bow thrust equipped ships making occasional calls, has proved somewhat unkind to the ferries which with their traditional steel plated wooden rubbing strakes. The Mersey Ferries are more used to the traditional redundant tyre style fendering used on the ferry stages. On Saturday, January 07, 2025 some quick work was undertaken to the starboard aft strake on the ROYAL IRIS after she arrived at Seacombe on her 11:00 sailing from Liverpool. The metal protective plating had been peeled away into an interesting shape which, if not removed would cause further damage. On arrival at Seacombe two workmen boarded with a cutting torch and within a minute the damaged plating was dispatched to the depths of the Mersey, With the new Pier Head Mersey Ferries Landing Stage in place, services are expected to switch to the new stage in January 2012. The opening day is believed to be Monday January 09. |
