YOUR PROPULSION EXPERTS
SCHOTTEL has been selected to provide the propulsion package for the new Mersey Ferries passenger ferry Royal Daffodil. Designed and constructed by Cammell Laird Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders Limited in Birkenhead, United Kingdom, the vessel was officially launched in September 2026 and replaces the Royal Iris after 67 years of operation on the Mersey River in the Liverpool City Region.
The Royal Daffodil operates on the Mersey River in the Liverpool City Region.
High-quality propulsion for reliable and safe operation
Operating on a tidal river with frequent berthing manoeuvres and dense surrounding traffic places high demands on the propulsion system. To address these requirements, the Royal Daffodil is equipped with two hydrodynamically optimized SCHOTTEL EcoPellers type SRE 210 and one SCHOTTEL TransverseThruster type STT 110. This configuration enables precise vessel control and a smooth transition from transit operations to harbour and manoeuvring operations. As a result, safe and efficient docking and undocking manoeuvres can be carried out during scheduled service. Combined with the redundant propulsion concept, precise vessel handling ensures a high level of operational safety and availability, even under demanding traffic conditions.
Compact installation and reduced noise levels
The two SRE each feature the LE-Drive variant (“embedded L-Drive"). Their compact, fully electric design helps optimize machinery space usage while reducing noise and vibration levels. This enhances passenger comfort, an important factor for short‑distance commuter services and sightseeing operations on a heavily frequented river route.
