The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company regrets that Manannan will not be able to return to service today as anticipated.
The Company had planned to finish the repairs within a compressed timetable by starting on some of the structural work while alongside the Liverpool Landing Stage. However, even after being able to do this, the extensive repair work could not be completed within the original schedule. This is due to a 24-hour delay entering dry dock, which was caused by work to another vessel overrunning.
Repairs to Manannan will now be completed later today.
Unfortunately, due to low tide heights over the next few days and the associated limitations on opening and closing of the dry dock gates, and despite repairs to Manannan being completed, the first available undocking tide is now expected to be 08:00 on Sunday 3rd April.
Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘I share the sense of frustration that I know our passengers will feel. Had we been able to get into dry dock as promised, our work would have been completed in time and we would have been able to meet our original deadline for Manannan to be back in service.
‘I would like to sincerely apologise once again for the inconvenience to passengers.’
The Steam Packet Company has announced the following alternative sailing arrangements.
Thursday 31st March
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 11:15 sailing from Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 14:15 sailing from Heysham
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 15:00 sailing to Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 19:45 sailing to Heysham
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 19:15 sailing from Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 02:15 sailing from Heysham on Friday 1st April
Friday 1st April
Passengers and vehicles booked on the 07:30 sailing to Liverpool are asked to contact the Call Centre on 01624 661661 or 08722 992992 to discuss available alternatives. If you have an online account the best way to check for alternative sailing options is to log in to your online account, access your booking and use the ‘amend’ function.
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 11:15 sailing from Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 14:15 sailing from Heysham
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 15:00 sailing to Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 19:45 sailing to Heysham
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 19:15 sailing from Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 02:15 sailing from Heysham on Saturday 2nd April
Saturday 2nd April
Passengers and vehicles booked on the 07:30 sailing to Liverpool and the 11:15 sailing from Liverpool are asked to contact the Call Centre on 01624 661661 or 08722 992992 to discuss available alternatives. If you have an online account the best way to check for alternative sailing options is to log in to your online account, access your booking and use the ‘amend’ function.
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 15:00 sailing to Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 19:45 sailing to Heysham
- All passengers and vehicles booked on the 19:15 sailing from Liverpool will automatically be transferred to the 02:15 sailing from Heysham on Sunday 3rd April
Coach transfers for foot passengers
Coaches will be available to transfer foot passengers between Liverpool and Heysham as follows:
- Depart Liverpool Terminal 11:00 for the 14:15 Heysham departure
- Depart Liverpool Terminal 20:30 for the 02:15 Heysham departure
- Depart Heysham on arrival of Ben-my-Chree – journey time is expected to be approximately 90 minutes
Notice for online account holders on disrupted Manannan sailings - The best way to check for alternative sailing options is to log in to your online account, access your booking and use the ‘amend’ function.
Revised sailing schedule for Sunday 3rd April
- 07:00 sailing to Belfast will now depart at 12:00
- 10:45 sailing from Belfast will now depart at 16:00
- 15:00 sailing to Liverpool will now depart at 20:00
- 19:15 sailing from Liverpool will now depart at 23:30
A further update will be provided should any of the above plans change.
