Lombard Ferry Finance - Rate Table (October 2026)
| Finance Type | Indicative Rate | Min Loan | Max Loan | Max LTV | Max Term | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Lease | 6–10.5% p.a. | £500,000 | No published cap | 80% | 12 years | Finance lease with VAT reclaim benefit; suited to larger established operators |
Rates indicative for October 2026. Subject to status, MCA survey and coding. Contact us for a tailored quotation. Compare all 9 lenders →
About Lombard and Ferry/Passenger Vessel Finance
Lombard, part of NatWest Group, is the UK's largest asset finance provider and operates a substantial marine lending desk capable of structuring bespoke finance-lease facilities for commercial passenger vessels. Their finance-lease product is particularly attractive for VAT-registered operators because VAT on the vessel cost can be reclaimed by the lessee as input tax - a material cashflow advantage on high-value ferries where VAT alone can amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Lombard's rates for ferry and passenger-vessel finance leases currently sit between 6% and 10.5% per annum, with the lower end of that range available to large, established operators with strong balance sheets, long trading histories, and strategically important vessels such as fixed-route RoPax or car-carrying ferries. The minimum transaction size of £500,000 reflects Lombard's focus on institutional-grade operators rather than smaller water-taxi or river-crossing businesses.
Finance-lease terms of up to 12 years give Lombard a meaningful advantage when financing larger, longer-lived passenger vessels where operators need monthly costs spread over the full economic life of the asset. Lombard's NatWest Group backing also means they have the balance-sheet capacity to hold very large individual exposures that specialist lenders cannot match.
Strengths
- Finance lease structure allows VAT-registered lessees to reclaim input VAT - a significant cashflow benefit on high-value passenger vessels.
- Longest available terms (up to 12 years) minimise monthly outgoings and match the economic life of newer, purpose-built ferries.
- NatWest Group balance-sheet depth means Lombard can fund very large single facilities that other lenders cannot.
- Competitive indicative rates from 6% for strong covenant operators with proven revenue streams.
Limitations
- Minimum deal size of £500,000 excludes smaller river-ferry, water-taxi, and excursion-boat operators.
- Lombard's credit process is thorough and documentation-intensive - decision timescales can run to several weeks for complex propositions.
- The lessee does not own the vessel under a finance lease; residual-value risk and title remain with Lombard until a secondary rental or balloon is paid.
Is Lombard Right for My Vessel?
Lombard is best suited to established passenger-ferry operators, ferry companies, and local-authority concession holders funding vessels worth £500,000 or more, particularly where the operator is VAT-registered and wants to spread capital expenditure over 10–12 years. Smaller operators should look at Close Brothers, Wesleyan, or Paragon.
As a whole-of-market broker, Doulton Bridging Finance compares Lombard against all other lenders before making a recommendation. See all lenders →