The Sandbanks Ferry, which connects Sandbanks and Shell Bay in Dorset, will stop operating for seven weeks starting November 2. The closure is part of a scheduled maintenance programme that alternates between major and minor works every two years.
The chain ferry's final service until late December will depart Shell Bay at 11:10pm on Sunday, November 1, according to the BBC. The route operates every 20 minutes, seven days a week, and is especially popular with tourists during the summer.
Maintenance details
General manager Wayne Row said the ferry's team "works exceptionally hard to prepare for refit years", with the last major maintenance project in 2022. The upcoming work will take place at Poole Quay and in Falmouth, Cornwall, with the completion timeline dependent on weather and sea conditions.
Mr Row added: "The team makes any repairs that are possible to do while the ferry is on the water, while out-of-water refit works tackle more complex processes around long-term structural integrity and regulatory compliance."
Parts for the refit are also ordered at least a year in advance, with sections and systems prefabricated, helping reduce the overall time the ferry needs to be out of service.
Impact on travellers
Mr Row said he appreciated that the ferry "is part of a critical transport network", adding that the firm is "doing everything we can to ensure works are both thorough and efficient, so we can be back on the chains quickly".
The Sandbanks Ferry cuts a 25-mile road trip around Poole Harbour to a four-minute crossing. It costs £6.26 one-way for vehicles and £1.18 for pedestrians. The ferry can be crowded with tourists during summer weekends and bank holidays due to its coastal views, and it holds a 4.3-star average rating on TripAdvisor. Recent visitors described it as an "amazing experience", an "excellent little adventure" and a "fantastic way to get around the harbour".
