Key Points
- Suspension of Mersey Ferries: Suspension of all services was implemented on Saturday, 10 October due to an operator reporting some technical problems.
- An apology was expressed to the passengers by Mersey Ferries, who also promised to make another update once more information becomes available.
- It remains unclear what is the nature of the problem or what ship or ships were involved.
- The ferry service’s sightseeing river cruises and its cross-river service during weekdays between Seacombe and Liverpool Pier Head are affected by this suspension.
- There are two ships operated in the fleet of Mersey Ferries; these are MV Snowdrop and MV Royal Daffodil, which started operations in 2026.
- MV Royal Daffodil, costing about £26 million, was made by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead. The vessel commenced its operations last month.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 10, 2026 — All Mersey Ferries services were suspended on Saturday because of a technical issue, the operator said, apologising to passengers and advising them to check for updates on when services might resume.
What happened to Mersey Ferries services?
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Mersey Ferries confirmed the suspension at around 9am on Saturday, 10 October. The operator announced the disruption on its website and social media pages, but did not explain the nature of the technical problem or identify any vessel involved.
The statement published by Mersey Ferries said:
“Mersey Ferries services are currently suspended. We will provide a further update as soon as more information becomes available. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The company also advised passengers to keep checking its channels for information about when services were likely to restart. At the time of the Liverpool Echo report, there was no confirmed resumption time.
Which ferry services are affected?
The suspension covers all Mersey Ferries services, according to the operator’s announcement quoted by the Liverpool Echo. These include a sightseeing river cruise, which gives passengers a view of Liverpool’s historic waterfront from the River Mersey.
Mersey Ferries also runs a direct cross-river service on weekday mornings and evenings between Seacombe, on the Wirral, and the Pier Head in Liverpool. The report did not say whether the suspension would continue into the following week or provide details of alternative arrangements for passengers.
The operator had not specified whether the technical issue affected a particular vessel, several vessels or the wider service operation. It had also not published information about the fault, its cause or the work needed to resolve it.
Which vessels operate the route?
The Liverpool Echo reported that the two ferries in operation are MV Snowdrop and MV Royal Daffodil. Royal Daffodil entered service in 2026, replacing the decommissioned Royal Iris of the Mersey.
The £26 million Royal Daffodil was built by Birkenhead shipbuilder Cammell Laird. According to the report, the vessel officially launched with its maiden passenger voyage last month. Mersey Ferries had not confirmed whether the new ferry, MV Snowdrop or both vessels were affected by the technical issue.
The available information therefore did not establish a connection between the newly introduced vessel and the service suspension. The operator’s announcement referred to a technical issue affecting services but did not provide further operational or engineering details.
What should passengers know?
Passengers planning to use Mersey Ferries were advised by the operator to check its website and social media pages for further announcements. The Liverpool Echo reported that the company would provide an update when more information became available.
The report did not include details of replacement transport, refunds or ticket arrangements during the suspension. Passengers should rely on announcements from Mersey Ferries or Merseytravel for any confirmed guidance about those matters, rather than assume that alternative arrangements are in place.
The suspension came on a Saturday when Liverpool was experiencing wet and windy spells, with gusts expected to reach around 40mph, according to the Liverpool Echo. However, the operator attributed the disruption to a technical issue; its statement did not say that weather caused the suspension.
What is the background to the suspension?
Mersey Ferries provides both river cruises and cross-river passenger services in the Liverpool City Region. Its sightseeing cruise offers views of Liverpool’s waterfront, while the weekday commuter service links Seacombe and the Pier Head.
The service is operated by Merseytravel, the public transport body that provides advice to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the metro mayor. The fleet information in the Liverpool Echo report identified MV Snowdrop and the recently introduced MV Royal Daffodil as the two ferries in operation. The Royal Daffodil replaced the decommissioned Royal Iris of the Mersey and was built at Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead shipyard.
The immediate cause of the suspension remained unconfirmed. Mersey Ferries had not disclosed the technical fault, the vessel or vessels affected, or a timetable for restoring services.
How could the suspension affect passengers?
The suspension could disrupt people planning to take a Mersey Ferries sightseeing cruise or use the weekday cross-river service between Seacombe and the Pier Head. The practical effect will depend on how long services remain unavailable and whether the operator issues further guidance or alternative arrangements.
Because the operator had not provided a restart time in the report, passengers could not rely on the published information to determine when normal service would resume. Its stated advice was to monitor official updates for further information. The report offered no confirmed forecast for the duration of the disruption.
