BBC NEWS
New life for retired river ferry

A ferry has been sold after 30 years of service and will leave the River Tyne for a new life in the south of England.

The Shieldsman will now set sail for the River Solent, where the new owner plans to turn it into a floating bar.

The vessel carried passengers between North and South Shields from 1976 until it was mothballed in 2007, after being replaced by a new model.

Operator Nexus said the sale meant the ferry will not now have to be sent off to the breaker's yard.

The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, will move the ferry, which has been moored at the South Shields ferrry landing since May 2007, to Portsmouth at the end of the month.

Bill Jackson, chief fitter on the Shields ferry since 1995, said that he was delighted a buyer had been found.

"She's been an excellent vessel to work on over the years and she is still in really good condition," he said.

"All the lads who work on the ferry would have been sad to see her sent away to be scrapped and we're all pleased that she's going to be renovated."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/tyne/7831028.stm

Published: 2009/01/15 16:17:37 GMT

© BBC MMIX