New ferry's Liverpool link priority for passengers

There is demand for year-round ferry sailings between the Isle of Man and Liverpool, a survey has suggested.

More than 4,500 people took part in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's week-long canvass of opinions on its plans to commission a new ferry.

The firm said while it was too early to draw "firm conclusions" from the responses, all-weather operations running all year and journey times were also among the key priorities that had been identified.

Plans to replace the current fast craft, the Manannan, with a purpose-built vessel by 2030 were outlined by the Steam Packet last week.

Between March and October, the Manannan operates daily sailings between the island and the Manx government-funded ferry port at the Prince's Half-Tide Dock in Liverpool, as well as occasional seasonal journeys to Dublin and Belfast.

In the survey of views on what passengers wanted from a new ferry, many said speed was a consideration as it was felt important to maintain the current schedule of two return trips to Liverpool each day in the summer.

A spokesman for the Steam Packet said the "huge volume of feedback" had highlighted "how central ferry services are to life on the Isle of Man".

Although the majority who took part were island residents, he said about 30% lived elsewhere.

They included TT visitors and marshals, friends and relatives of residents, and business travellers.

The government-owned ferry firm has committed to publishing a full summary of the responses once the results have been analysed.

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