Weather Disruptions and Our Commitment to Passengers
We play a crucial role in connecting the Isle of Man with the UK and Ireland, and we take our responsibility of providing a vital lifeline ferry service for very seriously. We deeply regret the disruptions that have affected our services recently. Unseasonable weather, yellow and amber weather warnings, and reduced berth availability at Heysham Port, as well as the damage to Manxman, have combined to create significant challenges, leading to the cancellation of some sailings and inconveniencing our passengers.
Apologies for the Recent Disruptions
First and foremost, we would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by these cancellations. The decision to cancel or delay a sailing is never taken lightly, but the safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. Deciding if it is safe to sail in poor conditions is the responsibility of our skilled Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Masters, assisted by the experienced team ashore. We always try to give services the best possible chance to go ahead. Decisions are often taken close to sailings times to allow for the most up to date information on weather conditions and other factors to be taken into account. We appreciate that this can be frustrating for passengers affected but we try to ensure all options are considered before cancelling a sailing. The unseasonable weather has been particularly challenging, disrupting not only our regular services but also the additional services we have been running to meet the high demand.
Accommodation for Affected Passengers
We understand how frustrating it is to have travel plans disrupted, especially when it results in an unplanned overnight stay. For those passengers who were unable to reach the Isle of Man due to the cancellation of the Wednesday (21st) afternoon and Thursday (22nd) over night sailings, who required accommodation in Heysham and the surrounding areas, we offered to help with accomodation. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time, and our team has been working tirelessly to ensure that all passengers are taken care of to the best of our ability.
Maximising Freight and Passenger Transport
As part of our ongoing efforts to minimise the impact of these disruptions, Manxman will be making its way back to the Isle of Man. The necessary repairs to Manxman have been completed by IOMSPC workshop engineering team under the instruction and advice of the attending classification society surveyor. This means Manxman will be back in service this evening. During this journey, Manxman will carry as much freight as possible, allowing Ben-my-Chree to focus on transporting as many passengers during the afternoon sailing. This strategy is aimed at ensuring that we can get as many people to their destinations as swiftly as possible, despite the challenging circumstances, and utilitsing our resources – especially crew – in the most effective way possible.
Looking Ahead
We recognise that these disruptions have been difficult for our passengers, and we are committed to doing everything within our power to restore normal service. The stormy conditions are likely to be an ongoing issue, and while we cannot control the weather, we can control how we respond to it. Our team is dedicated to making sure that every passenger is looked after, and that disruptions are minimised wherever possible. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this time. We are committed to ensuring that the Isle of Man remains connected, no matter the challenges we face.