Ferry services
Whether you want to go abroad or simply avoid traffic congestion on the way to work, a ferry service may be the answer. There is a range of ferry services that offer a good alternative to road or air travel.
Northern Ireland Ferry services
Local services run from Northern Ireland ports to England, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Rathlin ferry
The Department for Regional Development subsidises a passenger and vehicle ferry service which runs between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island. Vehicle access to the Island is restricted and only those drivers eligible to hold passes are permitted to take their vehicles on the ferry. Information about the pass system is available from Moyle District Council.
Telephone: 028 2076 2225The service is operated by Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd. and offers nine return daily sailings in Summer and five return sailings in Winter. The journey time is 45 minutes by the vehicle ferry and 20 minutes by the passenger only vessel. At peak periods demand can be greater than places available and advance booking is recommended. For timetables, fares and booking information contact Rathlin Island Ferry Limited.
Telephone: 028 2076 9299Strangford ferry
Roads Service operates the ferry service across Strangford Lough between the villages of Strangford and Portaferry.
To travel the distance between Strangford and Portaferry by road is approximately 75 kilometres and takes about an hour and a half by car. By contrast, the ferry route is approximately 0.6 nautical miles with a typical crossing time of about eight minutes.
The ferry runs for approximately 16 hours each day, 364 days per year.
The service normally operates with one vessel, leaving each slipway at 30 minute intervals; from Strangford on the hour and half hour and from Portaferry at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour. If you are a regular user of the ferry service you can buy multi-journey tickets (20 journeys) online - you can access this facility below.
Other ferries (privately operated)
A local service operates daily between Magilligan and Greencastle in County Donegal. For information contact the Lough Foyle Ferry Company Limited.
Telephone: 00353 74 9381901From June to september, a local service operates between Warrenpoint and Omeath in County Louth.
Telephone: 028 4175 3425Kintyre Express operates a service from Ballycastle to Campbelltown (Kintyre) and then from Campbelltown to Troon. More information can be found on Kintyre Express.com.
Manx Ferries operates a seasonal service between Belfast and Douglas, Isle of Man.
Norfolk Line operates a service between Belfast and Birkenhead.
P & O Ferries operate two services from Larne, to Troon and to Cairnryan.
StenaLine operates a service from Belfast to Stranraer.
Who's responsible for Northern Ireland's waterways?
Waterways Ireland is the guardian of Northern Ireland's inland navigations. Waterways Ireland is committed to providing a high quality recreational environment on the waterways in their care, for the benefit of all. Further details can be obtained from the website:
Hiring a boat
If you decide to hire a boat for your travels - whether you want a yacht or a canal boat - you need to know how to sail it safely.
'Sound practice, safer waters: The Inland waterways small passenger boat code' is produced by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) and the Maritime and Coastsguards Agency.
You can request a copy through the AINA website.You can also download a leaflet on the Waterways Code from British Waterways.
Student finance
Get help with rates
Passports
