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Ferry Name Revealed for New Isle of Man Steam Packet Newbuild Due in 2023

1st December 2020
After much deliberation, the IOMSPCo was excited to announce their new vessel is to be called Manxman! Throughout November, the public had the opportunity to voice their preference for the name of the new purpose-built ferry to enter service in 2023. The newbuild will replace Ben-my-Chree that during a career since 1998 had served the main route, Douglas-Heysham and as AFLOAT highlights on 'seasonal' routes moreso serving on the Belfast route compared to calling to Dublin otherwise operated by a succession of fastcraft. After much deliberation, the IOMSPCo was excited to announce their new vessel is to be called Manxman! Throughout November, the public had the opportunity to voice their preference for the name of the new purpose-built ferry to enter service in 2023. The newbuild will replace Ben-my-Chree that during a career since 1998 had served the main route, Douglas-Heysham and as AFLOAT highlights on 'seasonal' routes moreso serving on the Belfast route compared to calling to Dublin otherwise operated by a succession of fastcraft. Credit: IOMSPCo-twitter

Manxman is the name chosen for the new Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry following an online public consultation.

The announcement follows months of deliberation by the Manx ferry company, which in October announced a shortlist of four potential names – Manxman, Mona’s Isle, Manx Maid and King Orry - all of which are traditional Steam Packet Company vessel names.

Throughout November, the public had the opportunity to voice their preference for the name of the new purpose-built ferry as Afloat reported is to be built in Asia. The newbuild due in 2023 is to be flagged and registered under the Isle of Man Register and will replace the Ben-My-Chree.

More than 7,500 people took the opportunity to suggest their favourite of the shortlisted names. Out of these, it was Manxman and King Orry that emerged as the most popular choices by a considerable margin. These two favourites were then considered further by the company and the name Manxman was chosen. This will mark the third ship in the Company’s history to bear the name, the last a turbine steamer launched in 1955.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘After much thought and deliberation, we are excited to announce the name of our bespoke, custom-built vessel. King Orry and Manxman were both clear favourites, however, with more than 65 years having passed since the launch of our last ship called Manxman - compared to just 20 years since we named a vessel King Orry, we feel that now is the right time for the return of Manxman. It is a name that embodies the Manx spirit, signifies national pride and is suitably enduring for a vessel that will take the Steam Packet Company into its 200th year and beyond. She will be a fine addition to our fleet.

‘We would like to thank everyone who took the time to express their views on the four shortlisted names. It was pleasing to see such interest and, of course, to take the public’s views into consideration when making the final decision - something we thought very important.’

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!