The River Tamar’s ferry crossing between Torpoint and Plymouth is the busiest in Britain, and local users of the service will see reduced capacity over the next six weeks while TAMAR II undertakes its 5-year refit at the A&P dry dock facilities in Falmouth.
TAMAR II was spotted on our live 24-hour webcam this afternoon being towed by tugs in the Sound. It can only travel in relatively calm sea waters and wind conditions, and today it was relatively calm for its journey down the coast to Falmouth.
The refit of TAMAR II will see greater pressure on the remaining two ferries, with users advised to allow more time for their journeys and to monitor the Tamar Crossing website and social media channels for updates.
The Torpoint chain ferries are the biggest in the world, with normally three vessels in service on the river crossings.
TAMAR II refit will include a number of key jobs, including a survey of the underwater hull, replacing systems and equipment that have reached the end of their lives, and repainting the vessel above and below the waterline.
Tamar Crossings normally operates three ferries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in all weathers.