VIDEO: Damen Shipyards builds a new vessel for Windermere Lake Cruises

MV Swift will be the latest addition to the fleet of Windermere Lake Cruises.

When it hits the water in 2020 it will the first vessel of this size in more than 80 years to be launched on Lake Windermere. Building a vessel on this Unesco heritage site is a challenge, especially without the availability of modern shipbuilding facilities. Damen Shipyards will build a new vessel on a parking lot on the shores of the lake.

The attraction signed a contract to make a multi-million pound investment in the new vessel, MV Swift earlier this summer, with Netherlands-based boat-builder, Damen.

When launched, during the mid-2020 season, the new addition to the fleet will be the largest craft to be introduced onto Windermere for more than 80 years.

The new vessel has been designed to operate in all seasons, 364 days a year and will increase the quality of the visitors’ experience thanks to 21st century quality, comfort and accessibility. Like Windermere Lake Cruises’ existing flagship ‘steamers’ MV Swan and MV Teal, the new vessel will boast three decks but will be slightly shorter in length to enable it to access smaller jetties to help support other businesses in the area.

Too large to transport by road fully-built, the size of the vessel means it is necessary to build it in smaller sections off-site before being transported to Lakeside for final assembly.