Liverpool’s vast port is one of the main ports in the UK and spans across both sides of the River Mersey in Liverpool and Birkenhead. Thirty million tonnes of freight get processed each year at the port, including a third of the freight moving between Ireland and the UK.

The passenger terminals which lie on the Liverpool side of the Mersey offer decent facilities including snack and beverage vending machines, public toilets and payphones. The Twelve Quays River Terminal in Birkenhead which has been recently constructed at a cost of 30 million pounds, provides a check-in hall, covered check-in areas for both freight vehicles and cars, cafeteria with lounge area, and a separate rest area for lorry drivers which includes showers.

P&O Irish Sea Ferries provides a daily service to Dublin twice per day with sailings taking around eight hours and accommodates both passengers and freight. Super Sea Cat Fast Ferries also offers crossings to Ireland on a daily basis and depending on weather conditions runs twice per day. The crossings onboard their vessels will take just 3 hours, 45 minutes.

In the peak season, there are five crossings every day to Douglas in the Isle of Man, with crossings varying between 2 hours, 30 minutes and four hours. These crossings are run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

A service to Belfast, Northern Ireland runs twice daily with Norse Merchant Irish Ferries with sailings that take about eight and a half hours. They also provide a service to Dublin, Ireland which takes seven hours and leaves twice daily.

Both of the Liverpool passenger terminals provides excellent facilities for the disabled whilst help with boarding is provided as long as prior notification is given when making the booking. The Twelve Quays River Terminal has been specially designed to cater for the disabled.

Tags: Belfast, Birkenhead, Isle of Man, Liverpool Port, Northern Ireland, P&O Irish Sea Ferries, River Mersey, Super Sea Cat Fast Ferries, Twelve Quays River, UK