Choppy conditions prompt more delays for ferry passengers

The Ben-My-Chree is carrying out passenger sailings to Heysham

Manx ferry passengers travelling to Liverpool have faced long delays while disembarking due to choppy sea conditions.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said due to excessive movement, a decision was made to wait for the tide to rise before letter passengers and vehicles off the Manannan.

While the fast craft arrived in Liverpool shortly after 13:00 BST, its Douglas-bound return was delayed until shortly before 16:00.

The evening’s sailing between the island’s capital and Heysham, which is expected to see the return to service of the Manxman, was pushed back to 21:00 due to tidal conditions in Douglas Harbour.

With gales due to return, the firm has warned of possible further disruption to planned overnight crossings.

The Manxman arrived back in Douglas Harbour on Thursday afternoon

Ferry sailings between the island and Liverpool and Lancashire had resumed earlier after disruption due to gale force winds.

The morning crossings by back-up passenger vessel the Ben-My-Chree and fast craft Manannan both set off from Douglas Harbour.

It followed the cancellation of Wednesday’s afternoon, evening and overnight passenger sailings due to severe gales over the Irish Sea and time restrictions on berth slots.

The Ben-My-Chree was drafted in to carry out sailings to Heysham in place of the flagship vessel Manxman, which was undergoing repair work after sustaining damage while docking in the Lancashire port in the early hours of Wednesday.

MV Arrow returned to the island to bolster freight capacity following the disruption, but those services would once again be carried out by the back-up passenger vessel once the flagship ferry was back in service, the Steam Packet said.