Surveyors delayed arriving on Island

The Steam Packet says there are currently "very long wait" times for customers phoning their Call Centre.

The company says it has drafted in extra staff in Douglas and Liverpool to deal with the heavy volume of calls from thousands of passengers whose travel plans have been affected by the cancellation of the Manannan's sailings.

The fastcraft has been out of service since hitting the pier wall in Douglas as it came into its berth on Wednesday evening.

It's still not known how long it will be out of service.

Chief Executive Mark Woodward says surveyors who were due on the Island this morning have been delayed by a late flight from Liverpool and so they haven't been able to update passengers as quickly as he would have liked.

They are due to advise on whether the Steam Packets proposed repairs in a short dry dock period are acceptable.

Brendan O'Friel from TravelWatch IOM says the exact cause of the accident needs to be identified, and whilst he believes the company is doing its best to remedy the situation, he can understand passengers' frustration

The Steam Packet says online account holders who wish to check alternative sailings should log on to their online account, access the booking and use the "amend" function