Bristol ferry to restart after consortium buys boats

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-21213291

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A passenger ferry company in Bristol that went into administration last November is to resume service.

Bristol's Ferry Boat Company will run a weekend service until 10 February, when it will operate full time.

The company is being run by its original owner, Ian Bungard, on behalf of a consortium of investors.

Mr Bungard said: "I'm very proud and have the greatest confidence in the people who have raised the money to get it back in business again."

The company's fleet of five blue and yellow passenger boats were put up for auction last December, after the firm went into administration.

A consortium purchased all five boats and, under the name Bristol's Ferry Boat Company, are to continue to run the service on the city's Harbourside.

Mr Bungard, who originally launched the company in 1978, said "it feels like the right thing to be doing".

"We've always believed that there is a great value in having a water-based transport in Bristol," he said.

"The harbour links a lot of tourist attractions, the railway station and city centre and we've always thought there should be a lot more people travelling by boat."

Two other ferry services currently operate in the city.