Routes & Operators
Isle of Man Steam Packet puts Manxman repair bill at about £5m
Isle of Man Steam Packet estimates drydocking and propulsion-shaft repairs on flagship Manxman at about £5 million, with shafts back at Birkenhead and a return to service targeted for the end of November.
Source: Baird Maritime (opens in a new tab)
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company estimates that repairs and drydocking for its flagship ferry Manxman will cost about £5 million. Both propulsion shafts are back at the Balaena shipyard in Birkenhead after specialist repairs by MarineShaft in Denmark, arriving as of Saturday 10 October.
Propeller components are to be fitted before the ferry re-enters dry dock, scheduled for 15 October, followed by shaft and bearing reinstallation, other external work, inspections and sea trials. The company is targeting a return to service from the end of November.
Wear on both propulsion shaft liners and associated bearings was found during scheduled drydocking that began on 13 July. The company initially expected the ferry back in late September, then revised the timetable on 8 September. It will meet the cost from its own reserves without government funding, and has commissioned an independent report into the causes of the wear with a view to insurance and warranty recovery where appropriate.
During the outage, Ben-my-Chree has operated daily passenger services between Douglas and Heysham, with Arrow supporting freight. The 24,161 GT Manxman was delivered by HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea in 2023 as the company’s primary year-round Heysham vessel.