MANANNAN will be used to transport freight as well as passengers when it takes over from the Ben-my-Chree next week.

The fast craft ship will operate a daily sailing to and from Heysham, at 8.45am and 2.15pm, from Friday, December 16 to Monday, December 19. The sailing will take around two hours.

The Steam Packet Company has warned that in the event of adverse weather conditions the timings of these sailings may have to change to take account of "weather windows".

On Tuesday it was announced that the Ben-my-Chree would enter dry-dock to have its broken bow thrust unit fixed.

In a revised schedule to that issued on Tuesday it has now been confirmed that the Ben-my-Chree will operate the 2.15am sailing from Heysham to Douglas on Friday, December 16, as normal.

The boat will then sail to Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead where it will enter dry dock for repair.

It is scheduled to leave Cammell Laird in the early hours of December 19 after which it will make a freight only sailing from Heysham to the Isle of Man before resuming normal service at 7.45pm that evening.

The Steam Packet Company has said a freight charter should be finalised by Monday, December 12. If a ship is chartered it will offer 1.30am freight only sailings from Heysham to Douglas on December 17 and 18.

Mark Woodward, chief executive of the Steam Packet Company, said: "We have been working closely with the Department of Infrastructure and other affected parties to ensure that we are able to restore the Ben-my-Chree to full working order as quickly as possible.

"The dry docking for the Ben and the use of Manannan will proceed even if we do not receive confirmation regarding the freighter charter with Manannan covering passenger and some urgent freight requirements.

"The reason for Manannan sailing to Heysham is because it needs to use that port in order to offer a freight capability."

Also see: Ben-my-Chree bow thrust unit to be fixed next week

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