Ferry Across the Mersey with The Beatles tuned in
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| The iconic MV Snowdrop - in her stunning livery - on the River Mersey, Liverpool |
We did this on a warm June afternoon, 2019.
As you can see, the ferry has an immensely colourful livery. It has a deeper meaning, we have learnt. It was designed in honour of the vessels that were used in World War One; the colours were to ‘baffle the eye’ of the enemy, making them more tricky to target. Another interesting detail on it, down below.
The ferry's other name is also ‘Everybody Razzle Dazzle’, a name quite accurate to the services she provides.
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| Getting aboard on the Razzle Dazzle Ferry aka MV Snowdrop |
Mersey Ferries offer a selection of regular cruises on the River Mersey, Manchester Ship Canal, Summer Evenings and themed music cruises. We have chosen the music one. The tickets had to be bought in advance - the excursions are very popular in the summer months.
The current Mersey Ferries fleet consists of two boats originally built for Birkenhead Corporation. They came into service in the early 1960s under different names. After a massive refit in 2003, they got their current names: Royal Iris and Snowdrop.
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| Letting go - cast off head line and we are on the Mersey |
First sailing impression aboard the world-famous ferry. The cruise was planned for 2,5-hour, plenty of time to explore.
Ferries across the Mersey have sailed for over 800 years. The first service was run by Benedictine Monks from Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula in the year 1150, taking passengers to Liverpool, then a small fishing village.
The landing point was in the Pool, near nowadays Merseyside Police headquarters. The route had changed a little due to redevelopment of the Meresy embankment but has been in continual use, ever since.
Much has changed for Liverpool in the 19th and early 20th century, the waterfront is now UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some modern additions.
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| Sailing away from the Liverpool ferry terminal |
Royal Liver Building (above left) and the Museum of Liverpool (below right) are the landmarks of Liverpool riverside. The "Royal" prefix is granted as merit to a well-earned achievements.
On the board. The vessel is 46 metres long, 12 m wide, can achieve a speed of around 12 knots, and can take 1,200 travellers. The ferries are very manoeuvrable, having twin rudders and propellers and when berthing, the captain uses a combination of rudder positions and engine movements.
As the weather was really enjoyable, there was hardly anyone on the lower deck.
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| MV Snowdrop ferry lower deck |
In 2003, the ferry got new engines, new electrical wires, new funnel and new upper structure, primarily the wheelhouse. The new engines are more eco-friendly, producing much fewer emissions than the original propulsion ones.
While we were downstairs, we could hear the music starting, so it was time to relax in the tunes of the Beatles tribute band.
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| Let's the razzle-dazzle begin... The Beatles cover band |
As mentioned above, the MV Snowdrop livery has this special colourful camouflage, as a part of the First World War commemorations. The two sister ferries, Iris and Daffodil, were serving at the shores of Zeebrugge, Belgium, damaged, yet survived the war and returned to Liverpool. But that's not the end of the story.
It was commissioned during Liverpool Biennale in 2015 that this special livery would be applied and designed by no-one else but Sir Peter Blake.
The name does not ring a bell straight away, but it is good to learn that he is known for creating one of the most famous album covers in the world - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles.
The boys from the band were excellent in their tribute costumes, happy to pose for the photos. And they did play good music!
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| The Beatles tribute band in Sgt. Pepper's costumes |
It was a high tide and a high time to enjoy the views, the receding Liverpool and Birkenhead waterfronts, and some accompanying ships on the Mersey estuary.
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| River Mersey estuary |
We have reached the Royal Seaforth Dock, the main dock in the Port of Liverpool, one of the busiest in the UK.
Every day, those cranes take hundreds of containers with products from all over the world, to be disposed on to lorries and travelled to their inland destinations.
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| Sailing by the Royal Seaforth Dock and its huge cranes |
The two ferries have been in service for sixty years in 2019. The refurbishment carried out in the early 2000s is said to extend their lives for another thirty years, we have read.
Ours was half time of the cruise. The Sun was going down.
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| On the Mersey at the sunset |
In the1950s, the ferries carried almost 30 million passengers a year, by the end of the 1970s, the number fell to several million.
With more buses, trains and cars crossing the river underground, the ferries have become more of a sentimental value. They are also popular with hen and stag parties.
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| The dusk is a moment of quieting down |
Having a lot of time to contemplate the Mersey estuary and its riverbanks we could not help but notice that most of it are unfortunately far from being admired. It is a shame that only a small part of the 7,5 miles (12 km) of docks provide an interesting outlook.
Between Liverpool Pier Head and Seaforth Dock, there are miles of scrap metal bings, dumpsites, ruined warehouses, derelict sites - as if the war ended only a decade ago not over 70 years ago.
There is a lot to invest in and the Peel Group, owner of the Port of Liverpool had recently dedicated a major plan, called Liverpool Waters, to redevelop the north docks. It will take another 20-30 years. A massive project.
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| A view over Mersey busy riverbanks |
Bigger ferries, Stena Line make regular routes to Ireland and Isle of Man. Mersey is famed for thick fogs, and the services are suspended when visibility is very low.
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| Liverpool Waterfront, UNESCO world heritage site |