- The channel connecting the Irish Sea and Strangford
Lough is five miles
long and half a mile wide. The rush of the tide through the channel is so strong that the Norsemen called
the place Strang Fiord. The channel has a maximum depth of 52 metres.
- For almost four centuries without a break, a ferry service has been provided between Portaferry
and Strangford. The townland of Ferryquarter, which takes in part of Strangford, was granted by James
I in 1612 to one Peter Tumolton. The patent under which the townland is held grants two quarters of
land; one quarter called Carhomada on the Portaferry side, and the other in Ferryquarter on the Strangford
side. The Grant contains a covenant on the part of the grantee that:
- "His heirs and assigns, at his and their expense for
ever to maintain, keep and have in readiness, in and upon the ferry of Strangford, a good strong and
sufficient ferry boat, and four able and efficient ferrymen to attend the ferry, for the transport of
men, horses and other cattle and to perform other services at the said ferry as was theretofore used
or accustomed to be done."
- Strangford also had the first steam ferry in Ireland, thirty-six years before Belfast
could boast a steam ferry on the River Lagan. In June 1836 the "Lady of the Lake" took up
service between Strangford and Portaferry. Her maiden trip was a romantic one as on board were the eldest
daughter of Mr Andrew Nugent, of Portaferry House and Mr James Stronge of Tynan Abbey, County Armagh;
they had married earlier the same day.
- In early 1946 two flat-bottomed landing craft, fitted with twin engines and capable of
accommodating about 36 passengers and two motor cars were brought into service. Sadly this arrangement
ended with the capsizing of one of the boats and the loss of one life. The McDonald family from Strangford
operated a passenger service after this. Other names worth mentioning about this time are the Quails
from Strangford and the Trainors from Portaferry. This service lasted until 1967 when it was taken over
by the Government.
- A new car ferry, the MV "Strangford" was ordered from the Verlome Shipyard in
Cork. She was launched on 6 September 1969. The first superintendent was George McDonald, a man who
had spent his whole life on the ferry between Strangford and Portaferry. In 1974, another boat, the
MV "Portaferry" was bought from a company in Wales and modified by Messrs Harland and Wolff
of Belfast. This ferry acted as standby for whenever the main ferry was off due to annual maintenance.
Another smaller passenger-only ferry, the "Isle O'Valla" was bought at about this time to
cover for when neither vessel was operating.
- Roads Service currently operates the service. It acts as an essential transport link for
cars, commercial vehicles and foot passengers.
- The new £2.7 million MV "Portaferry II" was officially handed over to Roads
Service on Tuesday 23 October 2001 by shipbuilders McTay Marine of Merseyside. This purpose-built craft
successfully completed final trials in Strangford Lough. After crew training she came into service at
15:00 on Tuesday 18 December 2001.
- The "Portaferry II" has replaced the MV "Strangford"as
the main vessel. The MV "Strangford" has taken over the support role from MV "Portaferry".
MV Portaferry was sold in May 2002.
- Ferry manager, Derek Pedlow, welcomed the new vessel's arrival and said, "The ferry
service had always had a good reliability record, but it had become increasingly difficult to maintain
the MV "Portaferry", which was 40 years old."
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Strangford Lough Ferry Service Update:
Normal Service operating subject to weather conditions.
Location
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