The world wide web is proving a success for the world’s oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company.

Following web enhancements and promotion of on line best fare availability, web site bookings for The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have surpassed their target figure for 2005.

December 2005 bookings made via their web site www.steam-packet.com exceeded the 50% target for the first time.

Rupert Trevelyan, Steam Packet Director of Marketing said, ‘We are very pleased at this level of bookings achieved via our web site. Such a growth figure to 51.75% reflects how easy and accessible our on-line booking system is. We have invested heavily in this system and have significant enhancements planned for 2006. It is most pleasing to see this tremendous result’.

A further initiative by the Company introduced for the benefit of their customers is an ‘e-shot’ service. This facility automatically keeps registered customers ahead of Steam Packet special offers before general release. During January 2006 there is an added incentive to register for this service through a prize draw with 3 prizes of a Car + 4 standard return tickets.

For details on how to register for this service please visit the Company’s web site at www.steam-packet.com

The Steam Packet is gearing up for the summer season with their fleet of ships entering dry dock for annual overhauls.

In addition to the year round twice daily IOM/Heysham service operated by conventional vessel Ben My Chree, fast craft services linking the Island with Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin will again feature in the Company’s 2006 operations.

For further details and photographs, please contact Geoff Corkish, Communications Manager at SPC on 01624 645645.