Foot passengers can check in 25 minutes before the ship sails

Enquiries are also being made for ferry bookings for the 2007 TT centenary, bosses say.

The Steam Packet Company has reduced its check-in times for crossing between the island and the UK, but warns that TT travellers' times may be longer.

The check-in deadline for foot passengers is now only 25 minutes.

Rupert Trevelyan, Steam Packet director of marketing, said: "While still complying with security regulations, the enhanced facilities provided by our latest computerised systems allows us to pass on such benefits to our customers."

Steam Packet vessels are currently and systematically undergoing overhaul and refurbishment work for the 2006 season.