Cork Harbour to Welcome €80m Zero-Emission Ferry Service Connecting 17 Locations
Yes, we had to check it wasn't April 1st too! Cork's €80m electric ferry network will connect 17 harbour locations with swish catamarans and room for 1.5m passengers yearly.
Plans have been unveiled for a groundbreaking €80 million zero-emission passenger ferry service that will connect 17 locations across Cork City and Harbour, marking the city's first passenger ferry service in over a century.
Portus Greenway Limited, trading as Harbour Link, announced they are in advanced planning stages for the ambitious project that will utilise all-electric vessels to transport commuters, local residents and tourists via the River Lee. The service aims to provide a sustainable alternative to road transport, creating a natural, unobstructed highway across the harbour.
The environmentally friendly service will link locations including Cork Docklands, Cobh, Spike Island, and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The latter connection is expected to provide significant services on match days, helping to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance access to one of Ireland's premier sporting venues.
According to the company, the vessels will be uniquely designed sustainable zero-emission catamarans, specifically built for the harbour and river environment to achieve low noise and low wake service. They will be capable of operating at low speeds in restricted areas to protect the environment and other river users, whilst also achieving more efficient speeds in open water areas for reliable scheduled service.
The service will have capacity for over 1.5 million passenger trips annually across the 17 docking locations spanning from Crosshaven and Aghada in the lower harbour to the heart of Cork City, with stops at Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, Passage West, Little Island, Blackrock Castle & Observatory, and the city quays. This extensive network will connect with the new Transport Hub at Kent Station, providing direct pedestrian and cyclist access to the city.
Unique Sustainable Travel Experience
Harbour Link's ferries will feature a catamaran design offering two decks of modern, light and airy stylish cabin space, with additional outside open deck areas on both lower and upper levels. Each vessel will have capacity for up to 300 passengers to accommodate peak demand for commuter services, tourist times, and special events.
The ferries will prioritise accessibility with full disabled access throughout and are designed to accommodate a variety of transport needs with bicycle and luggage racks, plus space for electric and mobility scooters. Household pets will be welcome on the outer decks, making the service truly inclusive for all passengers.
Onboard amenities will include a barista-style coffee shop and kiosk for light refreshments, accessible toilets, free 4G Wi-Fi with phone charging points, and a downloadable app offering multilingual guided heritage tours of historic harbour sites. The commuter service plans to operate at 30-minute frequencies to the city in each direction, while tourists can purchase 24 or 48-hour hop-on-hop-off passes to explore harbour attractions.
Special sustainable features will be integrated throughout the service, including a rain capture system for onboard water needs, roof solar systems for additional power, solar provision for navigation and access lighting on pontoons, and planned Aqua-Flow Generation using underwater turbines to harvest power from river currents.
Aidan Coffey, founder and CEO of Harbour Link, stated:
"Cork has a fantastic opportunity to develop this stylish yet sustainable mode of all-electric zero-emission transport, as it has the unique resource of the unencumbered natural highway of the River Lee leading directly into the city."
The company expects to lodge planning applications within 6 to 12 months, with operations projected to begin by early to mid-2027.
Alan Giltinan, Founder and Centre Manager of Blackrock Castle & Observatory, welcomed the initiative:
"An important juncture in the development of Cork Harbour, Cork tourism and educational opportunity, Blackrock Castle warmly welcomes this endeavour. The ability to welcome visitors to the observatory via the water has the potential to significantly increase the footfall to the castle whilst giving the public a wonderfully scenic entrance through our waterside archway."
Minister for State at the Department of Transport Jerry Buttimer has expressed support for the project through a spokesman, noting it "could be transformative for tourism and commuters in Cork City, Blackrock, Monkstown, Crosshaven and across the harbour."
The company further plans to develop a Harbour Hub Terminus at Lynch's quay in Cobh, which will incorporate a second cruise berth and provide charging infrastructure for the electric vessels.
