WORK has begun on assembling Windermere Lake Cruises’ brand-new 300-seat boat, which is currently on-schedule to take to the water next year.

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. This week, some of those sections have started to arrive at Lakeside, where a team of engineers are working to complete its construction over the coming months.

Commenting on the modular sections’ arrival at the lakeshore, Windermere Lake Cruises’ Managing Director Nigel Wilkinson said: “Those of us who were privileged to watch the logistics and craneage were very impressed with the efficiency of the delivery, unloading and setting up process, which was all carried out safely under Damen’s watchful supervision.

“The keel laying was a major landmark for us and we wanted to publicly thank Damen for all the hard work that has taken place to get us to the stage in the project.”