#Ferry - Ben-My-Chree, the ropax Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry completed 2017 with a reliability record of more than 99%.

Operating services throughout the year, Ben-My-Chree chiefly serves Douglas-Heysham crossings and weekend sailings to Birkenhead during the winter months. In addition the ropax operates seasonal services to Belfast and Dublin throughout the summer months. 

During the 2017 season Ben-my-Chree:

• Operated 1,375 sailings, travelling more than 83,000 miles
• Had a 99.49% technical reliability record, with only seven trips cancelled during 2017
• Operated at 97.01% overall reliability, once weather cancellations are taken in to account
• Main engines accumulated 10,685 running hours

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Once again Ben-my-Chree has served the Island well and had a great reliability record during 2017, with very few cancellations due to technical issues. Disruptions were mainly caused by weather including storms Aileen, Brian and Caroline during the latter part of the year.’

Ben-my-Chree is scheduled to go to dry dock for her planned biennial overhaul this year between 17th April and 8th May. The overhaul costing £1.6m will be spent in various areas both above and below deck.

While Ben-my-Chree undergoes the overhaul, Manannan will operate the morning sailings to Heysham, Cumbria departing at 0800hrs and returning from Heysham at 1200hrs.