On 5th December 2023 the City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, made the welcome announcement that a contract had been signed with Cammell Laird to construct a new vessel for Mersey Ferries. Additionally the Snowdrop (formerly Woodchurch) is being extensively refurbished in stages to extend its life.
At a keel-laying and naming ceremony on Friday 10th January 2025 a coin was laid on the new keel as construction of the new ferry moved forward at Cammell Laird.
Named Royal Daffodil, she is programmed to be in service by the end of summer 2026.
Meanwhile, some Government regeneration funding for the Woodside Area has been ring-fenced for a new floating stage at Woodside terminal and construction is well advanced with completion due summer 2025.
The Friends letter below this paragraph is to the Chief Executive of the City Region and expressed our concerns about the closure of the previous Woodside stage (38 years old) with little or no explanation. We continue to be concerned about possible delays in opening the new facility due to other adjacent regeneration and will be following up the situation with Mersey Ferries and the City Region in the near future in relation to the Royal Charter and the need to tap Birkenhead as soon as possible into the Liverpool tourist boom.