King Harry Ferry

The chains take the strain...

In order to guide the 350 tonne ferry back and forth in all weather conditions, the ferries 270m long chains have to be incredibly strong and tough.

With up to 80 crossings a day, 364 days a year, the chains undergo a huge amount of wear and have to be replaced regularly, not ideal when they cost over £16,000 a pair!

Each chain weighs the same as a humpback whale and their combined strength is enough to lift ten double-decker buses.

After entering the ferry over small ‘jockey wheels' at each end the chain is fed onto the main ‘drive wheels' which pull the ferry across the river. These large wheels are over 2m in diameter and are driven by hydraulic motors, which in turn are powered by one of the ferries three diesel engines.

The big blue ferry that’s really GREEN...

The new £2.8 million ferry has been built with minimal environmental impact as a primary design criteria.

As a result the new ferry runs on ultra efficient diesel engines that have cut emissions by over 75% and reduced noise pollution by over 80%.

Each year King Harry Ferry saves:

• 5 million car miles
• 1.7 million kg of CO2
• 500,000 kg of carbon
• 750,000 litres of fuel