A new ferry route between the Port of Larne and Douglas is to start next year and be operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, writes Jehan Ashmore.
As Afloat previously reported, the Steam Packet’s former flagship Ben-My-Chree, which carried out berthing trials at the Co. Antrim port, is to operate the Isle of Man-Ireland route year-round starting in April. Crossing times will take 4 hours 30 minutes and just 2 hours 45 minutes by fast ferry.
The company’s existing route to Belfast Harbour will remain connecting the Manx capital.
The new Larne-Douglas route will be part of enhanced services on all core routes and a major investment in services to the island of Ireland. This is a schedule that is designed to enhance the attractiveness of the Isle of Man as a destination for visitors and business and enhance islanders’ quality of life by providing vital links to the major ports around the Irish Sea.
The development comes as the Steam Packet recently announced the launch of a three-ferry timetable for 2026/7, and bookings are now open. This is the first time in over 15 years that the Isle of Man has had a regular schedule outside of TT operated by three vessels.
For many, the standout feature will be the use of the Ben-my-Chree to pilot a massively enhanced schedule to Dublin Port and, following successful trials, at Larne. In the peak-season this service will see five sailings a week, and throughout the off-season the ropax ferry will also provide a regular connection to Ireland with three sailings a week to Larne.
Although primarily targeted at connectivity for passengers, Ben-my-Chree will allow for the development of freight and commercial links between the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland and vice versa.
With the Ben-My-Chree handling Irish traffic, the flagship Manxman and high-speed craft Manannan are freed to increase the number of sailings on the company’s core routes, helping to support economic growth. The main route is Douglas-Heysham, which since 2023, has been operated by Manxman; however, Afloat has consulted the timetable, where notably the flagship for the first time is to operate to Dublin.
Manxman takes 949 passengers, 250 cars, and 80 lorries, and it is the largest ever Steam Packet vessel and custom-built for the company.
Its predecessor, Ben-my-Chree, will predominantly serve the Larne-Douglas route; however, Manannan and Manxman will occasionally serve the new third route connecting the island of Ireland. The port is also where P&O Ferries operates its short-sea link on the North Channel to Cairnryan, Scotland.
The company is making further investment by planning a substantial interior refurbishment of Ben-my-Chree to modernize the public areas and enhance facilities for passengers using the routes to Ireland. This will be a welcomed development, but it will be too late for passengers on the Ben-My-Chree on its charter from this month to Stena Line, initially on the Rosslare-Fishguard route, who have only been able to use a reduced range of facilities as some of them were closed. During the charter the catering crew are from Stena, and the deck officers, etc., from the Steam Packet.
Since its introduction, the ropax has been beset by technical issues and adverse weather conditions, causing disruption to sailings and those cancelled.
Subsequently Ben-my-Chree began service with Irish Ferries on the Dublin-Holyhead route as part of the temporary space-capacity charter agreement with Stena. As the ‘Ben’ stands in for the ‘roster’ of cruise ferry James Joyce, but again unfavourable weather caused sailings to be delayed and cancelled, forcing passengers to be transferred to the Stena Estrid and Ulysses.
Yesterday morning the Ben-My-Chree departed Holyhead, and Afloat tracked the temporary off-service ship sheltering off Anglesey, North Wales. It is understood to be due to the lack of suitable spare berths, and as the port has just two ferry linkspans serving a current three ferries operating including the Stena Adventurer.
Meanwhile, James Joyce is on a relief role between Rosslare-Pembroke, with Stena passengers transferred from the closed Fishguard route due to maintenance at the port. In addition, the route’s routine ropax, Stena Nordica, recently completed its temporary duties on the Dublin-Holyhead route until the return of the ‘Estrid’ and is at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, as previously reported, undergoing planned dry-docking.
