Torpoint ferry TAMAR II is scheduled to be taken out of service on Monday, 22 April in preparation for being towed to Falmouth for her five yearly refit. Weather permitting the ferry will be towed to A&P’s dry dock facilities on 26 April.

TAMAR II is one of three chain ferries operated by Tamar Crossings which provide a vital 24-hour ferry service in all weathers for up to 8,000 vehicles and around 1,500 pedestrians each day, 365 days a year.

Achieving this requires a significant planned maintenance programme. Whilst the majority of maintenance is carried out while the vessels are afloat or during off-peak periods when an individual vessel is not in scheduled service. Major maintenance activities and equipment upgrades have to be carried out during refits in dry dock conditions.

Each of the three ferries undergoes a dry docking and refit every five years. The refit of PLYM II took place in 2023, with LYNHER due to be refitted in 2025.

The refit duration is approximately 6 weeks and this means that the Tamar ferry should be returning to service in June.

The refits also allow the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyds Register the opportunity to carry out their five-yearly dry-dock inspections which are aimed at ensuring that the ferries are in compliance, a good material condition, and that they are safe to operate.

As these ferries can only be towed in relatively calm sea states, the weather can have a significant impact on the programme. In the event of date changes due to issues outside our control, we will provide information through our website and social media channels. We will also be providing regular updates on the progress of the refit on our website.