#ferries - The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's main ferry, the ropax Ben-my-Chree arrived on Merseyside today to undergo an annual regulatory overhaul. 

The work on the 12,000 gross tonnage vehicle ferry with capacity for 630 passengers is to take place at Cammell Laird, the shiprepairer and shipbuilder located in Birkenhead.

The ferry entered the dry-dock at the marine engineering facility on the Wirral Peninsula for one week and is scheduled to return to service on Thursday 2nd May.

In the meantime fast craft Manannan will operate the 'Ben's passenger services on the Douglas-Heysham/Liverpool routes during this period, as per the timetable published last autumn. The MV Arrow, which the Steam Packet Company currently has on charter, will provide freight services.

During the overhaul, Manannan will depart Douglas for Heysham at 08:00 and for Liverpool at 15:30 each day, with the return sailings departing Heysham at 12:00 and Liverpool at 19:15.

A replacement coach service will be provided at Heysham to transfer foot passengers to and from Lancaster railway station.