News

UPDATE FOR PASSENGERS BOOKED ON SAILINGS FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH - LATEST ON MANANNAN REPAIRS

8/4/2015

The Steam Packet Company regrets to announce that all Manannan sailings for Friday, April 10th have had to be cancelled.

However, if repairs to Manannan proceed as planned, she should resume her normal schedule on Saturday morning (April 11th).

Passengers booked on Friday’s 07:30 sailing to Liverpool and the 11:15 sailing from Liverpool are asked to contact reservations on 01624 661661 to make alternative arrangements.

Additional telephone lines are available for passengers booked on any sailings FROM Heysham or Liverpool. These numbers are 0151 2425180 (open from 07:30 - 19:30) or 01524 865930 (open from 14:00 - 22:00).

All passengers booked on the 15:00 sailing to Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 19:45 sailing to Heysham and those booked on the 19:15 sailing from Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 02:15 sailing from Heysham on Saturday morning 11th April.

A coach will depart the terminal in Liverpool at 11:30 for those passengers transferring to the 14:15 departure from Heysham and at 21:00 for those transferring to the 02:15 departure Saturday morning.

A coach transfer has also been arranged for those foot passengers that require onward transfer to Liverpool terminal once the Ben-my-Chree sailings arrive in Heysham. 

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive, Mark Woodward, said: ‘I would like, once again, to express our sincere apologies to passengers. I can assure all of our passengers that we have made every effort to minimise the repair time, but the damage to Manannan was extensive.

‘The repairs necessary have required specialist heavy engineering, fabricating and welding expertise, some of which we simply do not have ourselves. 

‘Our engineers will be working through the night cutting and shaping the heavy steel plate ready for final welding repairs to both the starboard inner and starboard outer water jets.

‘Unfortunately, there have been no Certified and Class-approved specialist welders available in the UK, so we also had to arrange for two suitably qualified technicians to be flown in from mainland Europe. 

‘It is planned that divers will refit the first unit in the early hours of Friday morning, and the second unit will follow during daylight hours on Friday. Once both units are refitted, there will be various system checks to be completed and then harbour trials to be carried out to confirm that all is in order and that Manannan is ready for operational service.

‘We are hopeful that we will be able to complete and test repairs on Friday, and then resume normal schedules with Manannan from Saturday.’