The St Mawes Ferry, The Duchess of Cornwall, has taken to the water again after an autumn refit and to celebrate the company is offering cheap tickets to locals.

The 60ft ferry was relaunched after work to add a new fendering system and improve buoyancy was carried out by Cockwells at Mylor Creek Boatyard.

Launched by The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 2008 and built from wood by using traditional methods and materials the 100-seater ferry is the company’s flagship and runs between St Mawes and Falmouth, seven days a week, all year round. Cornwall Ferries managing director, Tim Light said: “The new fendering system is very important as it will allow her to land at more locations around the River Fal than ever before.

“She is a beautiful ferry and Cockwells did a fantastic job building us a fast, seaworthy and well built ferry using wood and traditional methods. “She’s back in the water now and looking very smart, and next week she will be back on the run sailing between St Mawes and Falmouth.” Since first sailing the route in July 2008 The Duchess has sailed the equivalent of once round the planet and carried in excess of 100,000 passengers.

Dave Cockwell, who completed the works, said: ''It has been good to get the ferry out the water and give her a refit. Building a wooden boat really creates an emotional attachment between the builder and the boat and so Cornwall Ferries will be helping local people cut the cost of transport to and from St Mawes and Falmouth with local people able to travel for £1 each way between now and the end of March 2011 on Tuesdays and Fridays. The special “locals” tickets are available online at kingharryscornwall.co.uk/ferries for residents living in the postcodes TR2, TR10 and TR11.