The ferry operator, The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has said it doesn't expect their flagship Manxman to be perfect yet, but its confident any issues can be fixed.

The 24,161 gross tonnes newbuild which was built in South Korea at cost of £78m, entered the Douglas-Heysham service in August, taking over from the ropax Ben-my-Chree.

As ManxRadio reports, this week an issue with the freshwater supply has left the ferry which can take 948 passengers unable to use the drinking water fountains. Also affected are hot drinks during crossings, while passengers have reported problems with lifts and non-flushing toilets.

The Steam Packet has confirmed it is providing bottled water free of charge to passengers in need.

Managing Director Brian Thomson, says some challenges are to be expected with a new vessel, to listen click here for the link to an audio clip.

A project to upgrade Douglas Harbour on the Isle of Man will according to the boss of the works "protect the infrastructure for the next 50 years".

Director of Harbours, David Gooberman said the harbour remained a "critical piece of infrastructure" and it and the new Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s ferry Manxman (above pictured) at the King Edward VIII Pier needed to be protected.

The work which is to take place at the inner pier in Douglas, will see the project designed to keep the pier and the newbuild £76m ferry safe during gale force winds.

The walls of the pier will be repaired and fenders and mooring bollards replaced in a project which is to cost £6.61m. Work is to start this Saturday and is scheduled to last six months.

The new 950 passenger ferry, Manxman which last month entered service on the Douglas-Heysham route, is due to take over from the Ben-My-Chree as the company’s flagship vessel from October.

More from BBC News here.

Currently, both Manxman and Ben-My-Chree Afloat add, operate the main Isle of Man-England route using the King Edward VIII pier, with the newbuild running day time sailings and the existing flagship providing night-time crossings.

While fast-ferry Manannan maintains the link to Liverpool but using the adjacent Victoria Pier, where on the outside of the port’s main pier, is a layover berth. From there, the new and old ferries shift berths in between operating sailings based out of the King Edward VIII Pier.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's newbuild flagship ferry made the significant journey from halfway across the world when completing the delivery voyage from Asia.

The £78m Manxman built in South Korea, had arrived in Manx waters yesterday, 2 July and berthed in Douglas Harbour at approximately 9.10am.

The last port of call was Southampton, England where further fittings were installed, following a lengthy journey from the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) shipyard in Ulsan, where construction of the flagship vessel began in August 2021.

With the Manxman now in place, the Douglas registered newbuild takes over the role the ropax Ben-my-Chree. This Dutch built ferry had carried out for the last 25-years operating crossings between the Manx capital and Heysham, England.

The 1998 built Ben-my-Chree now becomes a reserve ferry for the Steam Packet's fleet which includes the fast-craft Manannan and freight-relief ferry Arrow.

More from ManxRadio on the flagship which is due to enter service later this month. 

The delay in the arrival of a new ferry built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company reports ManxRadio is due to a fault found in previous trials conducted in South Korea, Asia.

The Manxman which is to serve the island's main route of Douglas-Heysham from later this year, has recently resumed sea trials.

Manxman which was built by the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, has been undergoing repairs after developing a gearbox issue during trials held earlier this year.

This had led to the delay of the newbuild's delivery voyage to the Isle of Man. The current main ferry, Ben-My-Chree which dates to 1998, will be replaced by the Manxman.

In a statement released by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co, they said that the Manxman's shipbuilders (HMD) are conducting routine sea trials to test the performance of the vessel and systems.

A team from the IOMSCo are on board the new build to observe and ensure that the ferry meets all design specifications.