Second Spike Island ferry sought as demand surges

The Spike Island visitor attraction in Cork Harbour plans to introduce a second ferry to more than double passenger capacity in a bid to cope with surging visitor numbers.

Expressions of interest have been invited from ferry service providers after it emerged that prospective visitors to ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’ were turned away on several weekends during the peak tourist season last summer because the current ferry service was at capacity.

A global search is now underway to identify a suitable vessel. It is expected that a vessel will have to be specially built to ensure it can navigate through the challenging shallow waters around the island and pass under the low-lying bridge at Haulbowline.