North Devon-to-Wales ferry routes considered in new public survey

A research initiative is seeking public views on the potential launch of ferry services in the Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea, focusing on connecting South West England, South Wales, and further international destinations.

The project, led by Ocean with support from Swansea Council, has already found strong local backing to reinstate routes such as the Swansea-Cork ferry, which was once a popular crossing between Wales and Ireland. 

Now, the survey is expanding to ask public opinion on services to places including France, Spain, and beyond.

Dave Sampson, CEO and founder of Ocean, told the North Devon Gazette: “In our research we have had people from North Devon who want to travel to south Wales and many people who want to travel to North Devon from Wales. If the ferry gets enough support, then the intention is to operate a service between them - there have been no decisions taken as to which port other than Swansea.”

He added: “We also have comments from people who would like the Swansea Cork ferry to return, so we are also interested to understand if there is also interest is to go to more distant destinations. I can imagine taking a ferry from Swansea to France would be more pleasant than the drive to Dover and if we are operating the ferry from North Devon to Swansea, it would be straightforward to travel to Swansea and change Ferries.”

Ocean is inviting local residents, visitors, and businesses to take part in the research by voting on whether they would use the proposed ferry services, sharing their views on routes and facilities, and supporting further studies through donations or sponsorship.

Ocean is inviting everyone, local residents, visitors, and businesses, to participate in this important research by:

1. Casting a vote (Yes, No, or Maybe) on whether they would use potential ferry services

2. Sharing their specific thoughts and requirements regarding routes, facilities, and services

3. Supporting the research initiative with a small donation to fund further feasibility studies

4. Businesses contacting them to sponsor the research

"This research marks a critical stage in determining whether ferry services from the region could once again become a practical reality," said Dave Sampson, CEO, Ocean.

"Historic routes like the once-popular Swansea Cork crossing generates passionate local support in Wales and Ireland, but we need concrete data from the public on potential usage patterns to make informed decisions about future services."

In addition to domestic routes between Swansea, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, the research is exploring potential demand for further routes including:

• Cork and Rosslare in Ireland

• France, including Boulogne-sur-Mer and further south to La Rochelle / Rochefort, Saint-Nazaire, Bordeaux, and Port d'Albret north of Biarritz

• Northern Spain, including Bilbao, San Sebastian, and Santander

• Potential longer-distance services to Morocco

Ocean’s mission is to champion pollution-free maritime travel by making sustainable ferry solutions attractive and economically viable for the region.

With growing interest from communities in North Devon and South Wales, this research is a key step towards potentially re-establishing ferry routes that could transform travel across the Bristol Channel and connect the region to Europe.

You can share your views here: https://oceanprime.co/en/boat-lab/ferry-research/vote/