The first harbour ferry service between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui in more than five years launched this morning.

The ferry, run by Omokoroa-Matakana barge operators Tauranga Water Transport, will initially operate a five-day per week Wednesday to-Sunday service, before being expanded to a daily service for summer.

The first harbour ferry in a decade launched this morning.

Owner Glen Proctor is optimistic about the viability of the service, which he hopes will eventually run year round between Salisbury Wharf and the Tauranga waterfront.

Glen has had strong support from Tourism BOP for the service and expects strong demand in cruise ship season.

'We will get a good feel for the demand in October and November and expect to be beginning the full daily summer service in December.”

A few people were lining up to get the first ferry across at 9am, while more people had booked for the 11am crossing.

The ferry boat is a 30 foot Naiad that is licenced to carry 23 people and was previously used as a Picton water taxi.

It will be skippered by Glen's son Michael – in what is a growing family water transport business, which will soon also include a 36 foot catamaran offering various tourism services.

The catamaran, which is being built by Kim and Colin Bertelsen's Mount Maunganui family boat-builder Alloy Cats NZ Ltd, will be ready for service by the end of October.

The cat will offer golf tours to Omokoroa, take visitors to Matakana Island for tours, as well as other charter tours out to Mayor Island and around the harbour. Glen is installing a video camera under the catamaran to watch stingrays to offer 'some interesting entertainment”.

The service will run hourly over the day from 9am-4pm, with services leaving Tauranga at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, while it will embark from Salisbury Wharf at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

Adults are $10 and children $5.