Dr Alex Allinson, the Isle of Man's Treasury Minister says he doesn’t know how often the ro-ro freight ferry Arrow is leased out, but he has no concerns over it being available when the Steam Packet needs it.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet’s purchase of the backup / relief freighter MV Arrow for €9m, was due to be completed this week.

Asked in the House of Keys about the Douglas-Heysham route's reserve ship's availability by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew), Dr Allinson said: ‘The information requested is not held by Treasury and relates to the operations of the Isle of Man’s Steam Packet Company, a now government-owned entity operating at an arm’s-length basis.’

That rather set the tone in the Keys for the short exchange, with Dr Allinson continuing to say the issues raised about the 84 trailer-unit capacity freighter were ones for the Douglas based ferry operator and its board.

More from Isle of Man Today on the Arrow.

Afloat adds the freight ferry when not required during busy times such as the TT Races, has been sub-chartered to operators in Scotland and the Channel Islands.