Roads Service operates the ferry service across Strangford Lough between the villages of Strangford and Portaferry in Northern Ireland.

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 8 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. The car carrying capacity of the new £2.7 million MV "Portaferry II" is 28. This is a 40 percent increase on the capacity of the MV Strangford. MV Strangford is in a standby and support role and will operate during peak traffic periods in the summer months.

It is not necessary to book your crossing before arriving at the ferry slipways at Portaferry or Strangford. You buy your tickets on board the vessel. See the fares section of this site. Vehicles and passengers are charged separately.

The crews and management are proud of their record of reliability in serving the public.

In our Passengers Charter, we aim for a service reliability of not less than 99 percent. Reliability for the last three years is shown in the table below.

Since the MV Portaferry II has been brought into service, the sailings lost due to weather disruption have been reduced by 65%.

Up to date information on ferry services may be obtained at any time by telephoning the Strangford terminal on (028) 4488 1637.

All passengers and cargo are carried subject to our Conditions of Carriage, a paper copy is available on request at the ferry terminal at Strangford.

Management of Waste related to Harbour Operations

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations) 2003 applies to the harbour at Strangford. Under these regulations, vessels that use these harbours must provide notification to the Harbour Master prior to entering port, must deliver waste to the port reception facilities and must pay a mandatory fee towards the cost of provision reception facilities. The link to the right (Waste Plan) contains information on the operation of these arrangements.