The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has suspended overnight ferry sailings on the Douglas-Heysham route, the operator's main service until ropax Ben-my-Chree returns from scheduled repairs on Merseyside.

According to BBC News, crossings during the morning from the Isle of Man to England and those returning from the port in Lancashire in the afternoon are now being operated by their fastcraft Manannan until 31 March.

The catamaran craft which can carry 865 passengers and 200 cars, has undergone the biggest refit since entering service in 2009 with significant investment to customer service areas.

As for the scheduled repairs to the Steam-Packet's 1998 custom-built Ben-my-Chree, they are currently been carried out at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, though originally they were due to take place after the TT in June but were brought forward.

The company's relief ro-ro freight ferry Arrow, Afloat tracked last week on a passage from Scotland to the Isle of Man. This follows a charter to CalMac between Ullapool and Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis due to the related closure of Uig Harbour on Skye.

The return of the 84 trailer capacity Arrow sees freight runs provided between the Manx capital and Heysham along with passenger services by Manannan.

The decision to bring forward the dry-docking of Ben-my-Chree with the scheduled repairs, is according to the Steam Packet to alleviate any pressure on schedules with the arrival from Asia of the newbuild ferry Manxman.

It was during sea trials that a gearbox fault was found of the £78m ferry built in South Korea which is to replace Ben-My-Chree as the main ferry on the operator's only year-round route.