'A lot faster than rush hour traffic': Big plans for Cork city and harbour ferry  

The CEO of a company that plans to introduce a new €80m passenger ferry service for Cork Harbour has said that, even abiding by strict speed limits, the service will look fast to those in rush-hour traffic.

Portus Greenway Limited, trading as Harbour Link, announced it is in the advanced stages of planning for the project, which would give Cork its first passenger ferry service in more than 100 years. The company’s founder, Aidan Coffey, told The Echo the service would abide by the upper harbour’s six knot — roughly 11km/h — speed limit.

“Six knots might seem quite slow, but if you’re stuck in traffic on the Lower Glanmire Rd, and we pass at six knots, it might look like we’re going nice and fast,” he said.

The six-knot speed limit is in effect in the upper harbour between Blackrock Castle and the Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins Bridges to minimise propeller wash from boats and ships.

Mr Coffey said the ferries would be able to operate at speeds up to 28 or 30 knots in the outer harbour and on Lough Mahon.

He added that the company was looking at a specialised onboard system, which is able to detect the presence of smaller craft in the water.

Docking locations

The ferry service’s 17 planned docking locations would include City Quay, Kennedy Quay and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Marina Quay, Tivoli, Blackrock Pier, Blackrock Castle and Observatory, Little Island, Passage West, Carrigaloe, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy, Paddy’s Point, Spike Island, Cobh Five Foot Way, Lynch’s Quay Terminal, Lower Aghada, and Crosshaven.

The company is currently in discussions with Cork City Council, Cork County Council, and the Port of Cork in developing the zero-emissions initiative.

Should it go ahead, the €80m investment would involve all-electric vessels that would have capacity for up to 300.

Each vessel would be wheelchair accessible and equipped with bicycle and luggage racks to accommodate mobility and e-scooters, as well as prams.

The commuter service has planned frequencies of 30 minutes to the city in each direction, and the company would offer short-break tourists a 24-hour or 48-hour hop-on/hop-off pass.

Mr Coffey said the company further planned to develop a Harbour Hub terminus at Lynch’s Quay in Cobh, which would incorporate a second cruise berth for cruise liners and would act as a base for charging all vessels.

'Unique opportunity'

“Cork has a unique opportunity to develop this stylish yet sustainable mode of all-electric zero-emission ferry transport, as it has the unique unencumbered natural resource of the River Lee leading directly into the city,” he said.

“Much work has been already done in the design stages and consultations ... including vessel and infrastructure designers and local sustainable power providers, to ensure this is a true zero-emission service.

“This is a win-win from an environmental and public perspective, and we’re really excited about the journey ahead.”

Alan Giltinan, founder and centre manager at Blackrock Castle and Observatory, said that the service had the potential to “significantly increase” traffic at the amenity.

“Blackrock Castle warmly welcomes this endeavour — an important juncture in the development of Cork Harbour, Cork tourism, and [an] educational opportunity,” he said.

A spokesperson for minister for state at the Department of Transport Jerry Buttimer said that he believed the project could be “transformative” for Cork.

The company expects to lodge planning applications within six to 12 months, with a view to being operational by early to mid-2027.