A NEW ferry could be sailing across the Mersey and the future of Woodside terminal looks secure under new plans revealed today.

Merseytravel is appointing a naval architect to design the new vessel.

The designer will work with the public transport organisation and other groups to decide how the ferry will look and advise on how much it will cost subject to formal approval of the scheme.

The proposal is among a range of options in a 20-year scheme for the ferries that was endorsed by Merseytravel committee members in January.

The strategy aims to reduce the cost of running the ferries – currently around £2.3m a year  – while building on their commercial and leisure potential.

Other updates will include discussions on options for the future of the Royal Daffodil, which is currently out of service - and retaining the two landing stages in Wirral.

There were proposals earlier this year for either Woodside or Seacombe terminals to be scrapped to cut costs - but the idea provoked a public outcry.

A protest petition gathered more than 2,000 signatures and Birkenhead MP said 

Savings of around £1m have been made over the past four years through such measures as taking The Royal Daffodil out of service, and new initiatives to get customers on board.

Frank Rogers, interim chief executive of Merseytravel, said: "This update shows that we are keeping up momentum in working towards a Mersey Ferries operation that remains iconic but also moves with the times, matching the wider ambitions we all have for the City Region, while reducing their cost to the public purse.

"There will be a number of decisions related to the individual proposals and options that Merseytravel committee members will be taking over the coming months and years and we will ensure that in making recommendations to them that we will be reflecting changes and developments in the city region, so we can offer a ferry service that best meets demand."

The plans will be discussed during a meeting of Merseytravel's committee members next Thursday, September 1.