Major refit underway of Dorset's Sandbanks Chain Ferry
Scheduled maintenance will affect Poole Harbour crossings for the next month
The Sandbanks Ferry is set to undergo a significant maintenance overhaul this November, impacting local crossings.
The vessel's last scheduled day of service was yesterday (Sunday, 1st November), and now the ferry is being prepared for major refit works.
Beginning 2nd November, the ferry will move to Poole Quay in Dorset, with additional works planned in Falmouth, Cornwall. The refit is projected to take approximately seven weeks, dependent on weather and sea conditions affecting progress.
Essential Safety Checks
Wayne Row, General Manager at The Sandbanks Ferry highlighted the critical importance of these routine refits that occur every two years.
The process involves extensive pre-planning and preparation, including ordering parts well in advance and prefabricating sections and systems to ensure overall time efficiency during the ferry's downtime.
On-board maintenance already continues throughout the year to keep the ferry in top condition, tackling the more complex challenges when the ferry is out of water.
The maintenance programme alternates between major and minor refits, with the ferry's last major refit completed in 2022.
This cycle ensures the vessel's long-term structural integrity and operational reliability.
The Sandbanks Ferry significantly eases travel in the area, reducing road journeys of up to 25 miles (40km) to just a four-minute crossing across the harbour.
The exact date for the ferry's return to service will be announced in December.