Ferry service linking Devon with Swansea could cost as little as £15 for passengers
Last updated 7th Jul 2026
A high speed hydrogen-powered ferry service between the North Devon coast and Wales could cost as little as £15 for foot passengers and get you there within an hour, according to a new report.
The zero-emission ferry service is being championed to bring high value jobs, economic growth and environmentally conscious reindustrialisation for coastal communities like Ilfracombe and Appledore.
The idea is being driven by Swansea Council who commissioned Ocean Prime Industries Ltd to carry out a report looking at the demand. More than 4,300 people and organisations took part in a consultation with 98 per cent expressing support.
It is believed that the service would fundamentally change connectivity across the region, significantly cutting down the journey time and avoiding snarl ups on the M4.
The target operating model assumes 20 trips per day, operating 350 days per year (with a reduced service during periods of extreme weather and waves above 2.5 metres) with a 350 passenger capacity and 24-32 car capacity.
Maximum speed for the ferry would be 60 knots with a cruising speed of 40 knots, which will be the fastest commercial ferry in the world as most conventional ferries travel at 20 to 30 knots.
Whilst the design is at an early stage the first ferry from Swansea to Devon could be in service by 2030.
The OceanJet Line report said that at full network maturity with a fleet of eight vessels, the annual visitor economy benefit to Swansea alone could exceed £600 million, subject to port access limitations, with similar pro rata benefit levels at participating ports across the network.
Both North Devon Council and Torridge District Council said they were aware of the project but were not in detailed discussions about it and Ilfracombe Harbour would need “substantial investment”.
Torridge District Council which is building the Appledore Maritime Innovation Centre to pioneer next generation clean maritime initiatives and technologies, said it had spoken to OceanJet to understand the general concept but added: “There have not been any detailed discussions regarding the project, its feasibility, or any future operational arrangements.
“The council remains open to initiatives that could deliver benefits for Torridge and the wider community but would need to consider more detailed proposals and wider implications before commenting further on the project.”
North Devon Council said: “While we are not currently in discussions regarding a ferry link between South Wales and North Devon, the development of such a link has always been one of interest.
“We have explored this historically but it is accepted that there is a lot of work to be done to identify the type of service that could be provided. While Ilfracombe can welcome foot passengers, other types of service would need substantial investment.”
Rob Stewart, leader of the city and county of Swansea Council said the report provided an evidence base that will help inform the next stage of discussions with partners, industry experts and potential investors.
Support for exploring the idea was overwhelming in the Swansea public consultation,” he said. “People also recognise the importance of developing cleaner forms of transport that support our environmental ambitions and help tackle climate change.
“It’s more than a transport connection, it offers the potential to strengthen economic ties with the South West of England, attract new visitors to the city, and support new industries linked to green maritime technology and hydrogen energy.”
Dave Sampson, CEO of Ocean Prime Industries Ltd, said he believed this was “a nationally significant strategic infrastructure initiative, on a par with HS2”.
“Since I first heard about the Swansea ferry idea at a meeting on floating offshore wind in North Devon College in 2021 I have had conversations with hundreds of people on both sides of the Bristol Channel,” he said. “Communities on opposite sides of the channel can see each other’s coastlines but cannot reach them. There is no scheduled passenger service connecting South Wales to Devon and Somerset.“
“A journey from Swansea to Ilfracombe that should take an hour by sea takes four or five hours by road, most of it on congested motorways that are nowhere near either coast. For the communities at each end, this is not a minor inconvenience, it is a structural barrier to employment, tourism, healthcare, education, and social connection that has persisted for decades.”
He said Swansea Arena’s 3,500-seat programme of concerts and events would suddenly be accessible to audiences in Barnstaple and Bideford with late-evening return services after the show and in the other direction, passengers from South Wales would gain direct access to the Tarka Trail, the South West Coast Path, Dartmoor and “a part of England that is equally beautiful and equally underserved by public transport”.
Passengers from North Devon would also be able to take advantage of the fast train from Swansea to London.
There have been questions, however, over how the service would maintain reliability in adverse weather and whether operations would be seasonal.
The Bristol Channel has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world and can experience sea conditions similar to mid-Atlantic. In 2025 Storm Darragh produced waves over nine metres.
“Weather and tidal conditions require specialist vessel design,” said Mr Sampson. “Port infrastructure requires investment and hydrogen supply chains need development. However, these are engineering and commercial challenges rather than fundamental barriers.”
He added that exceptionally high-efficiency vessel design and advanced AI would be used to optimise operations and reduce variable costs. The operating model is designed to achieve significantly lower costs than traditional ferry operations and predicts a £382 million passenger revenue in year two.