THE Department of Infrastructure is to enter into formal discussions with the Steam Packet over a number of issues relating to the company.
These will include the user agreement.
Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK has met senior representatives of the management and board of the Steam Packet on a number of occasions already.
The difficulties experienced by the Steam Packet's vessel Ben-my-Chree before Christmas together with the disruption to ferry services caused by a prolonged period of severe weather was reviewed by the Department on December 22 last year.
At a further meeting between the department and the Steam Packet Board held on January 24 to consider whether the existing user agreement remained in the best interest of the Island in its current form - or whether any changes were needed - it was agreed that initial discussions would be held.
The department considers that a range of related issues can be discussed - including future investment in Douglas Harbour and the Steam Packet's fleet, destination ports in the UK and Ireland and frequency and quality of service provided by the Steam Packet.
Once the company and the department have agreed on the prioritised matters to be discussed, more formal discussions will be programmed.
It is expected that both short and long-term matters will be included and of immediate interest to the department would be the resilience of the company's services and its contingency plan to overcome foreseeable risks such as breakdowns.
Longer term issues are likely to include whether or not to have a further or extended user agreement and, if so, its structure, future ownership of the company, investment in new ships and port infrastructure and destination ports in the UK and Ireland.
The current user agreement dates from 1995 and was extended and improved in 2002 and 2004.
The present agreement will run until 2026 including the six year extension that can be implemented by either the department or the Steam Packet Company.
The user agreement was designed to provide the Isle of Man with a minimum lifeline service required for both social and commercial purposes.
The department said the 2012 published Steam Packet schedule fulfils the user agreement requirements.
