Why don’t you go at top speed?

The timetable has not been designed to accommodate the fastest possible crossing, but to ensure that we are delivering a safe, reliable and resilient service. Crossing at maximum speed causes disproportionate wear and tear on a lot of the drive system and is less efficient on fuel so we reserve top speed crossings for emergency services ‘blue light’ crossings.

The ferries travel at the required speed to achieve scheduled departures, but the speed can be affected by a number of factors, including weather, tides and the volume of vehicles.
The scheduled service and ,therefore, transit times are based on a ferry speed that is efficient and achievable in most conditions and scenarios, with a very small contingency to accommodate unforeseeable events and situations.