Cadets from one of the UK’s top nautical colleges were hosted by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s flagship ferry on a recent crossing between the island and the north-west of England.
The opportunity on board the Manxman gave the seafarers, some of whom had never been on a ship, the experience of running day-to-day operations of the island’s lifeline ferry service.
Accompanying the deck cadets and engineering students from Fleetwood Nautical Campus, Lancashire, were their lecturers as they travelled on the flagship, which entered service almost a year ago on the Douglas-Heysham route.
They were given an extensive tour of the Manxman, awarded the prestigious ‘Shippax Ro-Pax Award 2024’. Among the areas visited were the engine room, cargo space, and the bridge, and the opportunity even to view the steering gear and bow thrusters.
The students, one from the Isle of Man, also met and spoke to officers and crew on Manxman to learn about the daily operations of running a ferry service.
“We are happy to support young talent who are keen to get into the maritime industry and give them practical hands-on experience to help their learning,” said James Royston, Fleet Operations Manager at IOMSPC. “We have supported a number of Manx seafarers who have wanted to get into the industry and a lot of our officers and crew have been trained at Fleetwood Nautical Campus and gone on to enjoy great sailing careers with us.”
Tim Ashton, Programme Leader of Advanced Certificate Martine Engineering at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, said: “The cadets learned a great deal about operating the ship and what life is like on board. They were given an extensive tour of the ship and even managed to view the steering gear and bow thrusters. Thank you so much to the Steam Packet for allowing us to sail on Manxman. The trip could not have gone better, and we appreciate the work put in to make this happen.”
The award-winning Manxman is considered the most modern ferry currently operating in UK waters and is delivering increased capacity for residents and visitors in the largest and most well-equipped vessel the island has ever had.
Manxman provided the seafarers to see first-hand, as it was built and sees the latest advances in ship management systems and is powered by the world’s most efficient four-stroke diesel engine. This is recognised for its high level of fuel efficiency and significantly reduces exhaust emissions, helping IOMSPC to deliver a far more sustainable and environmentally friendly operation.