Work on the taxpayer-funded £38m ferry terminal in Liverpool has begun.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer shared pictures of the work at the Princes Half-Tide Dock on Merseyside getting underway.

The ferry terminal, being built to replace the existing Pier Head landing stage, is due to be completed by July 2021, a delay of five months from the original February completion target.

Mr Harmer told the November Tynwald sitting: ’We are now looking at a completion date of no later than July 21, 2021, but we are still pushing for operating the ferry services for the TT 2021 season.’

In 2015, the Steam Packet said Peel Ports would invest £15m in a replacement facility for the Pier Head terminal which will become part of Liverpool’s new £50m cruise terminal after the Steam Packet vacates that site.

A similar agreement is in place with ferry operator Stena Line at the Twelve Quays port in Birkenhead where a £17m modernisation scheme is being carried out by the company and land owner Peel Ports.

When completed, the new landing stage will be capable of taking any vessels up to a limit of 142m in length and will allow the company to use Liverpool as a winter port as opposed to Birkenhead which is has done for a number of years.

The Steam Packet is not using Birkenhead this year due to the work that’s taking place at Twelve Quays.