The name of the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years has today been unveiled by Mayor Steve Rotheram during a ceremony to celebrate a major milestone in the vessel’s construction.

The Royal Daffodil will become the sixth Mersey Ferry to bear the name first used in the early 1900s, when it enters service in the summer of 2026.

The announcement was made at the ferry’s keel laying ceremony at Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird shipyard today (Friday 10th January).

Steeped in centuries of maritime tradition, keel laying traditionally involved the mast being lowered on to a coin placed inside a newly built boat as a symbol of good fortune for the vessel and its crew. The days of large sailing ships are gone; however, the custom continues in modern shipbuilding and marks the beginning of full vessel assembly.

Mayor Rotheram was joined at the event by David McGinley, Group Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group, as well as engineers and apprentices who are working on the vessel.

Also taking part in the ceremony was special guest Nurse Nadine Maguire of end-of-life care charity Marie Curie, whose symbol is the daffodil.

Nurse Maguire was invited to lay the special commemorative coin on the new ferry’s keel block in recognition of the tireless and important work the charity does to support people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.

The keel laying ceremony follows months of design, steel cutting and preparatory work on the new ferry which will be built entirely at the Wirral shipyard.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said:

“The world-famous Mersey Ferries have inspired hit songs and best-selling books; they’ve attracted visitors from around the world and they’ve connected communities on both sides of the River Mersey for hundreds of years. They are an instantly recognisable symbol of our city region, around the globe.

“That’s why I’m delighted to announce that the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years will retain the iconic name and historic title carried by some of the best-loved vessels in our fleet, the Royal Daffodil.

“Not only is today’s keel laying ceremony an important part of shipbuilding tradition, it also marks the important next step in the shipbuilding process.

“Over the coming months the Royal Daffodil will start to take shape, with a design that blends the modern and the traditional, and with facilities that will improve passenger experience. A ferry fit for the 21st century, built right here in the Liverpool City Region.”

David McGinley, Group Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group, said: 

“The Keel Laying Ceremony for the Royal Daffodil represented a significant milestone in the vessel’s construction process, marking the transition from preparation and fabrication to construction.

“Cammell Laird and the wider APCL Group is proud to be working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to be building the Royal Daffodil, which will provide a platform for millions of local people and tourists to enjoy Liverpool and the wider Liverpool City Region for many years to come.

“The economic impact of contracts such as these ensure that shipyards like Cammell Laird can continue to operate and are critical to the ongoing development of shipbuilding in the UK.

“This ferry will also provide an opportunity to showcase Cammell Laird’s shipbuilding skills to the world and ensure that Merseyside remains a maritime leader on the global stage”.

The Royal Daffodil will offer a world-class experience for passengers thanks to improved accessibility, new seating areas and bars. The vessel will feature large open plan decks as well as event spaces for corporate functions and private parties.

The vessel has been designed to harness state-of-the-art green technology, with a cutting-edge Azipod propeller system for reduced fuel usage, along with a diesel-electric hybrid-ready engine – with potential for future conversion to full electric propulsion as technology develops.

The design and name of the new Royal Daffodil will honour the rich heritage of the Mersey Ferries, with the exterior retaining the traditional white, black and red colour scheme of the historic fleet, while the interiors will be stylish and contemporary.

READ MORE: First images of new Mersey Ferry exterior revealed