Ferry sailings disrupted as repairs further delayed

The Isle of Man government-funded ferry terminal was opened in June last year

Repairs to the Isle of Man-owned ferry terminal in Liverpool have been further delayed due to bad weather, disrupting sailings this weekend.

The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) said recent adverse weather during a preceding job in Wales meant a barge with a crane - needed to make repairs to the berth at Liverpool - could not be obtained by the contractor.

It means sailings scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have again had to be moved to Heysham, Lancashire, about 90 minutes away by road. Coach travel will be provided.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's winter weekend sailings between Douglas and Liverpool by flagship vessel Manxman had been due to start at the beginning of November.

The government-owned ferry firm said coach travel would be provided between Heysham and Liverpool for foot passengers booked on the crossings.

Winter weekend sailings of the Manxman to Liverpool had been due to start in early November

The DOI said the project at the Princes Half Dock facility was necessary to make changes to the mooring fenders to allow the Manxman ferry to berth at all states of the tide.

The repairs were needed as a result of the protective cushioning device between the vessel and the berth, known as a dolphin fender, clashing with mooring lines at low tide.

The work had originally been scheduled to take place after the summer season, when sailings to the port by the fast-craft ferry Manannan ended in late October, but has been pushed back twice.

The department previously said normal vessel operations could not take place at the facility until the fender had been safely removed and reinstated.