Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: IOMSteam Packet

Officers employed by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, will according to a union, refuse to work overtime from 27 December in a dispute over changes to contracts.

In a ballot of union members from Nautilus International, who make up 48 of the ferry firm’s 70 officers, it had showed 89% had supported in taking industrial action.

At the centre of the ongoing dispute is the live-aboard arrangements for the crew working on the new custom-built £76m flagship Manxman during rest periods.

The newbuild with a capacity for 948 passengers had entered service in August on the main Douglas-Heysham route. 

This week the ferry company also faces weather disruption on the Irish Sea with gales affecting sailings yesterday. Afloat adds today, 21 December, sailings are subject to possible disruption or cancellation due to severe gale conditions.

For sailing updates, Click here

The Steam Packet has also warned of further disruption to sailings on the Manx-UK route which could last until Christmas Eve due to the weather.

BBC News has more on the dispute.

Published in Ferry

A Manx ferry Ben-my-Chree will be out of action for 'at least a week' as it undergoes repair work to one of its propellers.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company says it sustained damage when entering Heysham harbour, and it'll go into dry dock on Tuesday.

After inspection by divers, as well as investigations by the manufacturers of the propeller control systems, it's been decided the repairs can't be carried out whilst the vessel is afloat.

Manx Radio understands the Ben-my-Chree only returned to Douglas at around 12:30 this morning.

It'll sail from Douglas to Falmouth dry dock on Tuesday, with a further inspection and assessment by specialists to take place there.

The ropax built in 1998 Afloat adds having sailed overnight from the Irish Sea is currently off the Cornish coast while at Falmouth anchorage.

Published in Ferry

There has been a 'positive' response to a company survey according to the Isle of Man Steam Packet.

As Manx Radio reports, more than 7,000 people took part after it was launched at the end of last month.

The Company is trying to gain a better understanding of passenger views on travel services and on-board facilities.

Results from the survey will be taken into account during the design of a new vessel, which is due to replace the Ben-my-Chree over the next 2-3 years.

Published in Ferry

Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Cruisers Two

A 22-boat Cruisers Two IRC fleet will compete at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023: 

  • FRA 111, ALLIG8R, First Class 8, Brendan Foley
  • GBR 1371,L Elixir, Corby 29E, Brian Wilson
  • IRL 6697, Jeneral Lee, J97, Colin Kavanagh
  • IRL 2794 MATA, Half Ton, Darren Wright
  • KZ 3494, Swuzzlebubble, Dave Dwyer
  • GBR 242, Scenario Encore, Humphries IOR 3/4 tonner, Dave Gould
  • GBR 8538, Jack, J 92s, Gavin Doig
  • IRL 9033 Duff Lite, Corby 25, Gavin Doyle
  • KZ 3494, SWUZZLEBUBBLE, Half Ton, James Dwyer
  • IRL 1972 No Excuse, X-302, Jonathan Wormald
  • IRL 2597 WINDJAMMER, J97, Lindsay J Casey
  • GBR 1717X, XPLETIVE, X 34, Mike Crompton
  • IRL 988 Dux, X332, Nicholas and Caroline Gore-Grimes
  • IRL 7495, Maximus X-302, Paddy Kyne
  • IRL 5393, Hazy Blues, Paul Keelan
  • GBR 9778R, ZigZag Sunfast 3200, Peter Ashworth
  • IRL 8223, Kamikaze, Peter Nash
  • GBR 4418, Juno, Rex Robinson
  • IRL 2507 IMPETUOUS, Corby 25, Robert Chambers
  • GBR 1711C Eva, DAW 24, Robert Cowell
  • IRL 9970, Lambay Rules, Stephen Quinn
  • GBR 9700, Only Magic, Wilhelmus Batist