The Bristol Ferry Boat Company operates water bus services on Bristol Harbour

Bristol Harbour

Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It has existed since the 13th century but was developed into its current form in the early 19th century by installing lock gates on a tidal stretch of the River Avon in the centre of the city and...

 in the centre of the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 city of Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

.

Services are operated for the leisure market to and from both the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads railway station

Bristol Temple Meads railway station

Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...

, and serve 15 landing stages throughout the length of the harbour. Services are provided by a fleet of yellow and blue painted ferry boats.

In 2010 the city council supported commuter services formerly operated by the Bristol Ferry Boat Company were transferred to a new operator, Number Seven Boat Trips.

Landing stages served

The Bristol Ferry Boat serves the following landing stages:

Fleet

The fleet of the Bristol Ferry Boat Company includes the following vessels:

• Brigantia - Purpose built in 2006 for work on the Bristol Ferry.
• Countess - Built in 1896, carries up to 12 passengers.
• Elizabeth - Built in 1922, carries up to 30 passengers.
• Emily - Built in the mid 1920s and has been in service in Bristol since 1992, carrying up to 45 passengers.
• Independence - Built in 1926 and has been in service in Bristol since 1981, carrying up to 45 passengers.
• Margaret - Built in 1952 and has been in service in Bristol since 1977, carrying up to 25 passengers.
• Matilda - Purpose built for work on the Bristol Ferry, carries up to 45 passengers.

History

The City Docks Venturers, a non-profit making conservation group in Bristol, started a Ferry service in 1977. with the first of the ferry boats " Margaret" which had worked on the Avon between Pill and Shirehampton. In 1978 the Ferry service became a proper business, and later added the ferry boat "Independence "

External links

• Bristol Ferry Boat Company website.