Wales to Devon ferry service edges closer
There is big momentum behind plans for a south Wales to Devon ferry service as the project moves into its next phase.
An overwhelming 98 percent of more than 4,000 people who responded to a public consultation said they support the proposal.
Technical and commercial concept assessments have now been completed and further feasibility work will begin in the coming months to test how the service could operate in practice.
The proposed route would link Swansea with North Devon, creating a new connection across the Bristol Channel. Talks have taken place with councils in North Devon, Somerset and Torridge as discussions continue around port locations and infrastructure.
Most respondents backed the idea of a car carrying ferry rather than a passenger only service, opening up the potential for stronger tourism, business and freight links between south west Wales and south west England.
The ambition is for a service that runs beyond the peak summer season, supporting year round travel and economic growth.
Swansea Council confirmed it paid £24,995 for the consultation work. Supporters say the next round of detailed feasibility studies will determine whether the long discussed route can finally become a reality.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart first signalled backing for a hydrogen ferry in April 2022. Early last year a council-funded consultation on the concept got under way.
Supporters back the idea of a quick, environmentally-friendly transport option which would cut out the M4 and M5 and attract potential investment in ports and harbours.
There are questions about where a ferry would berth, how much investment would be needed to update port infrastructure, whether public support would translate into bookings, and how the ferry would attain zero-carbon emission credentials.
Although the consultation’s findings haven’t been made public yet the council said the maritime company that carried it out, Ocean Prime, has progressed work on an interim business case.
Referring to the Ocean Prime consultation work a spokesman for Swansea Council said: “Detailed technical and commercial concept assessments have identified some strong opportunities. The feasibility of these opportunities will be undertaken in the coming months to understand how they might be included.
“This is why Swansea Council has very recently drafted a memorandum of understanding to enable this work to develop further.”
He said the memorandum formalised the collaboration between the council and Ocean Prime and added: “Ocean Prime has met several other regional council experts, including harbour masters, since they first became aware of the project in 2023.
“This has included exploratory talks about various aspects of a ferry concept with North Devon Council, Somerset Council, and Torridge District Council.
“Now that market testing has been carried out in the Swansea area meetings will be arranged between Swansea Council, Ocean Prime, and councils in southwest England to further explore feasibility.”
Demand
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in April last year Ocean Prime chief executive Dave Sampson stressed it was very early days and gauging demand for a new service was key. He did though envisage a vessel around 55m long which would take passengers, cars, and some cargo at speeds of up to 40 knots.
Mr Sampson said Swansea was the only firm destination should the initiative progress further. In terms of other locations either side of the Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea further west he said: “We are not ruling anything in or out.”
He also said the intention would be for a ferry service to operate as much as possible rather than just the summer months.
Funding
In 2010 a proposed new fast ferry linking Swansea and Ilfracombe in north Devon, called Severnlink, came close to launching but was hit by funding difficulties.
Last June Swansea Council responded to a freedom of information request by a former Swansea councillor about the cost of the Ocean Prime consultation. The council said it had paid the company £24,995 and hadn’t allocated any further money towards the project.
The findings of the Ocean Prime consultation report are due to be published but no date has been given.
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Swansea has demand from businesses due to the city’s size. The other port needs businesses located near the port – should benefit from low land values and lack of jobs in that region. I have reviewed previous Southamptons economy and it has twin cities with the French locations at the end of the ferries, academic and business links. I do not understand why Swansea Uni has a campus in London, as so many other Unis do. If they forged academic links with a Uni near the port, it will create demand for travellers and hopefully they can create some spinoff… Read more »
Good points Andy. This ferry would work if business demands it. The rural economy, for example, could be one sector that could see increased trade, and I’m sure there are a number of SME’s that could seek collaborations across the water. The obvious academic link up would be with Swansea University linking with Exeter University. I assume that those exploratory talks are taking place right now. As you rightly state, Swansea’s London campus is a white elephant, and just panders to the London-centric view that exists within the minds of many of our senior academic staff (within Swansea and in… Read more »
If I am not mistaken it is a3 hour drive and a 50 minute car ferry journey but then you have boarding and unloading.
Three hours ! Where do you live ?
3.27 hrs google map time
Minimum four hours with traffic and a rest stop.
I seem to have a vague recollection that there once used to be a summer only ferry service between Swansea and Ilfracombe, way back when I was living in Swansea over fifty years ago.
But maybe that’s a false memory?!
You are correct. I remember back in the 1950s staying with my grandparents whilst my mother and father went on a ferry from Swansea to Ilfracombe. There was two ferries I believe, the Waverley and Balmoral.
You are correct. It also used to do a stop off at Lundy. I went on it once; the ferry broke down and we spent 2 hours bobbing about on the water off Ilfracombe.
I thought the proposal in 2010 foundered because Ilfracombe Harbour was unable to accommodate the size of ship needed for a car ferry. What has changed? This sounds like Swansea City Council throwing money away again! I hope I’m proved wrong.
Also rather than Ilfracombe, why not sail directly into Barnstaple or Bideford?
Sad to say you may well be correct , Swansea have a habit of forgetting things , like the forgot there was a clause that prevented County Hall being turned to a hotel.
Unless it’s a car ferry which is easy to reach from the main roads and public transport on both sides and runs regularly throughout the year like those on Scotland or the UK to Irish ferries (all of which I doubt) it won’t last.
I would think that it could use the berth at Swansea Dock, that was used until 2012 by the Swansea to Cork ferry service? I’m not sure about the facilities on the Ilfracombe side though?
Why do six-figure council officers need to hire consultants. If I employed someone earning up to £200,000 annually I would expect them to have “consultant” abilities.
Definitely needed, but as co.mented ,needs decent bus service links on both sides and run all year round. Boost for Wales and West Country. Just hope it happens this decade.
A ferry from Swansea to Ilfracombe would cut the driving distance from Liverpool to North Devon by 100 miles which would possibly offer a nice alternative route.
Doomed to fail – insufficient demand.
You can’t go by the memories of the past when pubs closed on Sunday in Wales. This prompted a car-less exodus to N. Devon and Somerset.
The forthcoming Trump induced recession may offer staycation opportunities for the service. Quite like Porthcawl myself.