An agreement has been reached says the Isle of Man Steam Packet, with the union representing its officers, in resolving the issue regarding terms which the ferry operator said they must live aboard the fleet at times.

According to Manx Radio, the company hasn't said what the agreement with the union, Nautilus International is, and whether officers will live aboard at times or not.

The Steam Packet’s Managing Director, Brian Thomson said: "We are pleased that our Officers and Nautilus brought solutions to our negotiations that have enabled us to reach a positive and fair agreement that ensures that we can continue to deliver a high-quality service to our customers."

He added, "We would like to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication during this period. We can now focus on delivering the reliable and quality service that our passengers expect and deserve on board our vessels which are the envy of the Irish Sea."

The Government owned company says the flagship Manxman, introduced last year, was designed for live aboard, and the practice allows for more flexibility and resilience to the sailing schedule.

Union members in December, had objected to the proposals and subsequent industrial action, coupled with poor weather, caused disruption over the busy Christmas and New Year periods.

The radio station has contacted the Steam Packet and Nautilus to find out more about the agreement, following the dispute of recent years.