SHOPRITE has welcomed the news that the Ben-my-Chree is due to have its broken bow thruster fixed next week.
The chief executive of the company, Andrew Thomas, has said he hopes the repair work is completed successfully to allow Shoprite to get back to "business as usual".
Many local businesses have been affected by a number of cancellations to the ferry service – which the Steam Packet has said is down to a combination of poor weather and the broken bow-thruster.
The Steam Packet has now confirmed that the Ben-my-Chree will go into dry-dock next weekend to have the bow thrust unit replaced. For more on this click here.
Mr Thomas said he welcomed the "urgent steps" being taken by the shipping company.
In a statement he explained: "We welcome the news that the Steam Packet is taking urgent steps to address the problems with the bow thruster and hope that their plans are successfully completed as soon as possible to allow us all to get back to delivering 'business as usual' to all the Island's communities."
Mr Thomas revealed a "strategy meeting" had been held with the Island's Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK last week.
He continued: "We outlined our increasing concerns about service from the Steam Packet this winter due to the bow thruster and as we received the press statement in an e-mail from the minister late last night we would like to thank him and his team for the part they undoubtedly played in trying to restore reliability to deliveries for all the Isle of Man's retailers during our busiest trading period. As a retailer himself the minister fully understands the issues facing fellow retailers.
"Shoprite has extensive on Island warehousing, which is a great help at this time, and our on Island suppliers are doing everything they can to keep our stock levels up.
"We sincerely hope that the delivery promise made to the Steam Packet is honoured and that we can all get back to serving our customers at the levels they, and we, would like."
Mr Thomas also thanked Shoprite staff whose working patterns and hours are being changed at "very short notice" as and when deliveries arrive in the Isle of Man.
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