To the designers’ knowledge there are only two other operational manual chain ferries in the world, one in Stratford on Avon UK and the other in Saugatuck, Michigan USA. So whilst the technology is unlikely to displace diesel power in the world’s main ferry routes, it makes a unique and engaging contribution to the landscape of Matlock in Derbyshire.

Designed to carry up to eight  passengers across the Derwent, downriver of the historic Jubilee Bridge, the ferry’s design has a classic Victorian character, echoing the structure of the bridge.

For designers MDI Napier , the chain ferry was an interesting project. The company’s Catriona Millican said, ‘It was an unusual brief, but we always enjoy the challenge of creating something new.’

MDI was also involved in designing the aluminium kit used to build ‘Hydro 1’, the Cardiff Bay water bus for Aquabus Water Transport Solutions Ltd which was featured in the last issue of Maritime Journal. Designed by naval architect Colin Silvester, the 10m aluminium catamaran was modelled in 3D and designed as an assembly system by MDI and Deri Jones & Associates Ltd (DJA). The two companies often collaborate, with MDI designing the hull and plating whilst DJA focuses on the internal structure.

The resulting kit design enabled the owners of the catamaran to oversee the assembly and welding of the hull at a local welding and fabrication yard in South Wales. Having the hull and superstructure as a laser-cut assembly system ensures that the original design intent of the hull is kept during construction, an essential requirement when dealing with high speed, low wash vessels such as the Aquabus.

The 3D CAD model of the Aquabus was also used for creating computer generated images of the vessel, showing it in a variety of different locations, which proved invaluable in raising awareness and interest in the project during the construction of the vessel.

The DJA/MDI team have worked on many assembly systems in both steel and aluminium, from 23m fishing vessels to 3.8m RIB’s. They supply cutting data to CNC plasma, laser and router based cutting systems and provide a full service for the production of shaped plating. Used by several of the UK’s leading yards, the assembly systems reduce time and increase accuracy of builds, while minimising the amount of materials used.