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4th January 2024

Offers Made by Isle of Man Ferry Operator to Resolve Dispute

Ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have put forward several options to resolve an ongoing row over crew contract changes, the firm's boss has said.

Managing Director, Brian Thomson said "different" proposals had been made at discussions with the seafarers’ trade union Nautilus International and the Manx Industrial Relations Service.

Mr. Thomson commented that it was "too early a stage" to discuss details but he was "hopeful" a resolution could be found.

It follows cuts to services as union members work-to-rule.

A rostered officer who had taken compassionate leave, was not replaced as no cover could be found, leading to Douglas-Heysham passenger crossings having to be reduced. This according to the Steam Packet involves one daytime sailing of the newbuild flagship, Manxman each day for a fortnight, which began yesterday as Afloat reported.

The company’s freight-only vessel, MV Arrow will also carry out overnight services for the Manx government-owned ferry firm over the same period on the Isle of Man-England route.

Since the introduction of the £76m Manxman in August, the dispute has deteriorated and centres around the live aboard arrangements for crew on the flagship during rest periods.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium.