Generator failure leads to ferry cancellations

A generator failure has caused the disruption to Manannan sailings

The failure of a generator on an Isle of Man ferry has resulted in disruption to passenger sailings.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said a "significant technical issue" had led to Manannan's scheduled crossings to and from Liverpool on Sunday and Monday being scrapped.

In an update, a spokesman said while it was not possible to give a "definitive timeline" on the completion of repairs, the company was was "optimistic" the issue could be "quickly resolved" with the help of specialist engineers.

A final decision on return sailings to Dublin and Liverpool would be made by 05:30 BST on Tuesday, he said.

Passengers have been transferred to Manxman where possible, with coaches providing a transfer between Liverpool and Heysham.

The island's back up vessel, the Ben-my-Chree, has been brought into action to for freight services to Heysham to free up passenger capacity on sailings by the Manxman.

The existing generator has been removed to be replaced with a spare

In a statement, the Steam Packet explained crews at sea and on shore had spent Sunday investigating the source of the technical failure and started the process of "swapping out" one of the generator sets with a spare unit.

It said specialist electrical engineers would be flown to the island to "perform further diagnostic checks".

The firm's electrical engineering team were also "taking the opportunity to tackle an ongoing electrical issue with another of the vessel's generator sets".

That would improve "the chances of having sufficient generator capacity to resume service at the earliest opportunity", it said.

Managing director Brian Thomson said the team had been "working hard to resolve this situation as we're well aware of how critical this time of year is for holidaymakers travelling in both directions".

"We're doing everything we can to minimise disruption and return to normal service as soon as possible", he added.