CAMMELL Laird has secured a multi-million pound contract to build a ferry for the Northern Ireland department of transport.

The Birkenhead firm was awarded the £5.7million to construct a new car and passenger ferry, replacing the existing MV Strangford operating between Strangford and Portaferry in County Down, Northern Ireland. The new ferry is due to be delivered by August 2016.

The new ferry will have capacity for 28 cars and 260 passengers and share ferry operation on a rotational basis with the MV Portaferry II.

Laird was awarded the project by the Department for Regional Development after an open procurement exercise which attracted interest from shipyards across Europe.

Rob McBurney, the company's commercial director, said: "We are very pleased to have been awarded the contract for the construction of the new Strangford Ferry.

"The company has a long tradition of shipbuilding and we look forward to working with the department over the coming years."

Transport minister Danny Kennedy said: "The new ferry will replace the existing MV Strangford with a new modern ferry that has been designed specifically for this service.

"The new ferry will be built over the next 18 months and, when it comes into operation, will provide a more reliable and efficient ferry service.

“The Department for Regional Development currently operates a vehicle ferry service in Strangford Lough between Strangford and Portaferry with two vehicle ferries and a back-up passenger ferry.

"The new ferry will replace the existing MV Strangford which is over 40 years old and is approaching the end of its economically operational life."