Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Sheshaght Phaggad Bree Ellan Vannin

Type	Private
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1830
Headquarters	Douglas
Key people	Robert Quayle (Chairman) Mark Woodward (CEO)
Owner(s)	1996–2003: Sea Containers 2003–2005: Montague Private Equity 2005–2011: Macquarie Bank 2011–present: Banco Espirito Santo
Website	www.steam-packet.com

Route map

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited (abbreviated to IOMSPCo.) (Manx: Sheshaght Phaggad Bree Ellan Vannin) is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2010.

The company provides freight, passenger and vehicle services between the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, in Douglas, Isle of Man, and five ports in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

User Agreement

The Steam Packet Company is required to fulfil the terms of a User Agreement negotiated with the island's Department of Transport.^{[citation needed]} Under the 2004 extension of the Agreement, the following minimum service levels are required:

• Inbound freight capacity: 7,800 lane metres per week.
• Service to north-west UK ports: 936 return sailings per year.
• Summer-period frequency to Liverpool: a daily service from April to the third week in October.
• Services to the east coast of Ireland: 63 return sailings per year.

Compliance with the above requirements gains the sole user rights to the government-owned linkspan in Douglas Harbour.^{[citation needed]} The Steam Packet Company owns the second linkspan, and thus controls a monopoly on roll-on-roll-off vehicle transport to and from the Isle of Man.

In 2006, the company was under investigation by a select committee of Tynwald, the Isle of Man's parliament. One of the concerns of Tynwald is the annual published profit margins by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which, according to Hansard, are 36% - almost three times the industry standard for ferry companies throughout the world.^{[citation needed]}

History

Mona's Queen (4) in 1961

Beginning of the company

There had been various shipping companies serving the Isle of Man before the formation of this company in 1830, but such crossings were irregular and vessels used were unreliable. As a result the island could be cut off for weeks at a time. The Manx people felt it was essential they should have their own dedicated service. A meeting was held in the island's capital Douglas in 1829, from which was formed a committee charged with finding out the cost of acquiring a Steam Packet.

On 30 June 1830, the forerunner of today's Isle of Man Steam Packet Company was born when the brand new vessel, Mona’s Isle, built at a cost of £7,250, sailed from Douglas to Liverpool on its very first sailing. From the inauguration of the service until January 1832, the company was known as the Mona's Isle Company. For a brief period the company then traded as the Isle of Man United Steam Packet before assuming its present name in July 1832.

War service

Vessels and crews of the company were actively involved in both the First and Second World Wars. One vessel, King Orry, was attached to the British Grand Fleet and led the German High Seas Fleet into Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands at the end of the First World War. Another vessel, Viking, was converted to become a seaplane carrier, serving as HMS Vindex.

During the First World War, eleven out of a total fleet of fifteen Steam Packet ships were requisitioned by the Admiralty. Four of them were lost, three retained by the government and four returned to service. Ben-my-Chree and Manxman also served as aircraft/seaplane carriers.

In the Second World War, ten of the fleet of sixteen ships were commandeered for active duty, four of which were lost. The Dunkirk evacuation was perhaps the company's finest hour, with Mona's Isle (IV) being the first to leave Dover and the first to complete the round trip during the evacuation. Eight company ships took part in this mission, rescuing a total of 24,699 British troops – one in fourteen of those evacuated from Dunkirk. The anchor from Mona’s Queen was raised as part of the 70th anniversary commemoration of Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk. It is to be sited at Kallow Point in Port St Mary as a memorial to the company's crew who took part in the war.

Vehicle transport

Four side-loading RORO car ferries were introduced, beginning with Manx Maid in 1962, and followed by Ben-my-Chree (1966), Mona's Queen (1972) and Lady of Mann (1976). Mona's Isle (VI) (Townsend-Thoresen's 1966 Free Enterprise III) was the Steam Packet Company's first stern loader in 1984-85.

The 1980s were tough times for the company, with declining passenger numbers. Strong competition from Manx Line's Manx Viking brought them close to collapse. In February 1985, they announced a merger with Sealink who had, by now, taken over Manx Line.^{[citation needed]} The main UK port switched from Liverpool to Heysham, thus ending (albeit temporarily as it turned out) an association lasting back to the company's origins.

Today

In return for exclusive use of the linkspans at Douglas, the Steam Packet Company has made a guarantee of regular services to the Manx government.^{[citation needed]} MS Ben-my-Chree and HSC Manannan, a high-speed catamaran car ferry, provide regular services to England and Ireland.

In addition to the regular routes, the company operates a small number of special day excursions to other destinations or round the Isle of Man during the summer months. Extra sailings are scheduled during times of high demand such as the TT period. The company also operates its own in-house travel agency.

2008 rebranding

Ben-my-Chree entering Douglas Harbour

In June 2007, a new CEO, Mark Woodward, was appointed to succeed Hamish Ross, promising to improve the company's services and to return to the classic livery and promote the Island's culture.

The first part of the rebranding was first exercised with the Sea Express 1 becoming Snaefell and SuperSeaCat Two becoming Viking, the latter having now been sold and operating for Atlantico Line as the Hellenic Wind.

The fleet received a brand new livery, replacing the old SeaCo livery. All fleet members received complete internal refits which reflected the company's new colours and the rebranding of the company's on board lounges. The terminals received new signage and new uniforms were made for crew and shore staff.

The company's first class lounge and members club were renamed, with 1st Lounge becoming the Manannan Premium Lounge and the Blue Riband became the Manannan Executive Club. The Quiet Lounge was also renamed, becoming the Niarbyl Reserved Lounge.

Ownership

In 1996, the Steam Packet Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sea Containers Ltd headed by James Sherwood, who had pioneered the fast-craft operation. In July 2003, the company was sold to Montagu Private Equity for £142 million (previously named HSBC Private Equity Ltd).

In 2005, the company was purchased by major Australian investment bank, Macquarie Bank for £225 million. In April 2011, it was announced that the Steam Packet Company had new owners Banco Espirito Santo.

Fleet

Fleet history

The company originally started utilising wooden paddle steamers, which soon gave way to the steel "screw" vessels. The "screw" vessels were superseded by turbine steamers, the first being the 1905 Viking. The company then replaced the passenger-only steamers with side-loading car ferries, the first diesel car ferry being the 1972 Mona's Queen [V]. Fastcraft then became the next generation of vessels to operate for the company, the first being the SeaCat Isle of Man. The company now operates a fleet of two, a fastcraft and a RO-PAX conventional ferry.

Current fleet

Both high-speed craft and a conventional vessel make up the current fleet.

Picture	Name	Built (Commissioned)	Route(s)	Tonnage	Port of Registry	Notes
	MS Ben-my-Chree [VI]	April 1998 (July 1998)	Douglas - Heysham Douglas - Birkenhead Douglas - Dublin	12,747 GT	Douglas	Flagship of the fleet
	HSC Manannan	November 1998 (May 2009)	Douglas - Liverpool Douglas - Belfast Douglas - Dublin	5,029 GT	Douglas

Present day operations

Current routes

The routes which the Steam Packet Company operates are:

• Douglas - Liverpool (March-November)
• Douglas - Heysham (Year round)
• Douglas - Birkenhead (November-March)
• Douglas - Belfast (April-September)
• Douglas - Dublin (April-December)

2012 Sailing Timetable

WINTER TIMETABLE (until late March)

Ben-my-Chree

Monday to Friday

Departure time	From	To	Arrival time
02:15	Heysham	Douglas	05:45
08:45	Douglas	Heysham	12:15
14:15	Heysham	Douglas	17:45
19:45	Douglas	Heysham	23:15

Saturday & Sunday

Departure time	From	To	Arrival time
02:15	Heysham	Douglas	05:45
08:00	Douglas	Birkenhead	12:15
14:00	Birkenhead	Douglas	18:15
19:45	Douglas	Heysham	23:15

SUMMER TIMETABLE (from March)

Ben-my-Chree

Monday to Sunday

Departure time	From	To	Arrival time
02:15	Heysham	Douglas	05:45
08:45	Douglas	Heysham	12:15
14:15	Heysham	Douglas	17:45
19:45	Douglas	Heysham	23:15

Manannan

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Departure time	From	To	Arrival time
07:30	Douglas	Liverpool	10:15
11:15	Liverpool	Douglas	14:00
15:15	Douglas	Liverpool	18:00
19:15	Liverpool	Douglas	22:00

Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday

Departure time	From	To	Arrival time
07:00	Douglas	Belfast/Dublin	09:55
10:45	Belfast/Dublin	Douglas	13:40
15:15	Douglas	Liverpool	18:00
19:15	Liverpool	Douglas	22:00

Historic fleet

Pre-war steamers

The company built five steamers over ten years from 1927. They were the replacements for the various second-hand steamers that the company purchased to replace its First World War losses.

Ship	Built	Entered service	Route	Gross Tonnage	Notes
Ben-my-Chree [IV]	1927	? 1927	Douglas — various	2,586 GT	Requisitioned (1939–46), scrapped 1965.
Lady of Mann [I]	1930	? 1930	Douglas — various	3,104 GT	Requisitioned (1939–46), scrapped 1971.
Mona's Queen [III]	1934	? 1934	Douglas — various	2,756 GT	Sunk (mined) at Dunkirk, 1940.
Fenella [II]	1937	? 1937	Douglas — various	2,376 GT	Sunk (bombed) at Dunkirk, 1940.
Tynwald [IV]	1937	? 1937	Douglas — various	2,376 GT	Sunk (torpedoed) off Bougie, 1942.

The "Six Sisters"

The last turbine steamer in the fleet was the Manxman, introduced in 1955 and withdrawn in 1982, but still in existence and awaiting restoration in 2008. All six of "The Six Sisters" were built at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead.

Ship	Built	Entered service	Route	Gross Tonnage	Notes
King Orry [IV]	1946	April 1946	Douglas — various	2,485 GT	Decommissioned 1975, scrapped 1979.
Mona's Queen [IV]	1946	June 1946	Douglas — various	2,485 GT	Decommissioned and sold 1962, scrapped 1981.
Tynwald [V]	1947	July 1947	Douglas — various	2,487 GT	Decommissioned and scrapped 1974.
Snaefell [V]	1948	July 1948	Douglas — various	2,489 GT	Decommissioned 1977, scrapped 1978.
Mona's Isle [V]	1950	March 1951	Douglas — various	2,491 GT	Decommissioned and scrapped 1980.
Manxman [II]	1955	May 1955	Douglas — various	2,495 GT	Decommissioned 1982, awaiting scrapping 2010.

Side-loading car ferries

The company developed a design of side-loading car ferries, with a spiral ramp at the stern. These could operate (as car ferries) from ports which were not equipped with linkspans. This design is unique to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company still today.

Ship	Built	Entered service	Route	Gross Tonnage	Notes
Manx Maid [II]	1962	May 1962	Douglas — various	2,724 GT	Decommissioned 1984, scrapped in 1986.
Ben-my-Chree [V]	1965	May 1966	Douglas — various	2,762 GT	Decommissioned 1984, sold, scrapped in 1989.
Mona's Queen [V]	1972	June 1972	Douglas — various	2,998 GT	Decommissioned 1990, sold 1995, scrapped in 2010.
Lady of Mann [II]	1975	June 1976	Douglas — various	3,083 GT	Sold in 2005 to SAOS Ferries; reported scrapped, 2011.

RO-RO ferries

The company has operated a number of RO-RO passenger and freight ferries in its history, the pioneering vessel being the Peveril [IV] in 1981, in response to Manx Line's Manx Viking.

Ship	Built	Entered service	Route	Gross Tonnage	Notes
Mona's Isle [VI]	1966	April 1984	Douglas — various	4,567 GT	Sold in 1985, sunk off Jeddah in 2004.
Tynwald [VI]	1967	October 1985	Douglas — various	3,762 GT	Sold in 1990, scrapped in 2002.
King Orry [VI]	1972	February 1990	Douglas — various	4,649 GT	Sold in 1998, currently active.
Peveril [IV]	1974	May 1981	Douglas — various	1,975 GT	Sold in 1998, scrapped in 2009
Manx Viking	1976	April 1985	Douglas — various	3,589 GT	Sold in 1986, laid up as of 2010
Belard	1979	November 1993	Douglas — various	1,599 GT	Sold in 1998, currently active.

Fastcraft

The company has operated fastcraft since 1993.

Ship	Built	Entered service	Route	Notes
Emeraude France	1991	March 2007	Douglas — Liverpool/Belfast/Dublin	Currently laid up at Tilbury
SeaCat Danmark	1991	May 1998	Douglas — Liverpool/Belfast/Dublin	Now operating as Pescara Jet
SeaCat Rapide	1996	June 2004	Douglas — various	Now operating as Jaume II
Snaefell [VI]	1991	May 1994	Douglas — Belfast/Dublin /Liverpool	Sold to NEL Lines in Greece.
SuperSeaCat Three	1999	2000	Douglas — various	Now operating as Speedrunner III
Viking [II]	1997	March 2003	Douglas — Liverpool Belfast/Dublin	Sold, now operating as Hellenic Wind
Manannan	1998	May 2009	Douglas — Liverpool/Belfast/Dublin	Currently in service

Incidents and disruptions

2007 Sea Express 1 accident

On 3 February 2007, Sea Express 1 (formerly SeaCat Isle of Man) collided with the cargo ship Alaska Rainbow in heavy fog in the River Mersey. None of the 294 passengers and crew was hurt, and the ferry was moored at Liverpool Pier Head while water was being pumped from the engine room, a number of cars remained on board. She was later towed to the Cammell Laird basin in Birkenhead where all cars remaining aboard were offloaded. On 14 March 2007, the Sea Express 1 was relaunched. In the meantime alternative service was provided by Ben-my-Chree to Birkenhead during the weekends. In December 2007, the vessel was renamed to become the sixth Snaefell.

2010 Ben-my-Chree accident

On 26 March 2010, while embarking passengers and loading vehicles at Heysham, England, the ro-ro passenger ferry Ben-My-Chree moved approximately eight metres along the quayside, causing serious damage to the passenger access structure. The foot-passenger walkway detached at both ends and collapsed onto the quayside, and the gangway detached from the vessel’s side shell door and was left hanging on a single rope. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Eight passengers were trapped in the gangway compartment of the shore structure and were later rescued by the local fire service.

2010 fastcraft disruption

In July 2010, Manannan suffered a technical problem, causing one of her engines to shut down. This caused minor disruption to the schedule, and 35 minutes was added to her crossing time from Douglas to Liverpool, bringing it to three hours.

Then, two weeks later, Snaefell suffered the same technical problem, causing one of her engines to shut down also. This now caused major disruption to the schedule, as she wasn't able to carry out her Liverpool sailings, and most Irish sailings were re-scheduled, and her crossing time from Douglas to Belfast and Dublin was up to four hours.

Manannan's engine was repaired in November 2010 when the fastcraft season had ended, and Snaefell's engine was repaired in September 2010, when she was taken out of service.

2011 fastcraft disruption

In July 2011, HSC Manannan suffered a problem with one of her gearboxes, causing one of her engines to shut down. This caused disruption to the schedule, with the Liverpool crossing now taking 3 hours, and Belfast and Dublin crossings taking 3 hours and 25 minutes. The Steam Packet released a report stating that they were disappointed in the problem with the gearbox, as all four gearboxes were overhauled during winter 2010.

Competition

2010 competition with Mezeron

On 1 November 2010, it was reported on the Isle of Man Newspapers website, that the Steam Packet had lost two major freight customers to rival company Mezeron who had just set up a new freight service between Douglas and Liverpool a week or so earlier. Here is an extract from the article:

Manx jobs and ferry passengers services could be in jeopardy following the loss of major freight customers, the boss of the Steam Packet has warned. Tesco and Shoprite have confirmed they have signed up to rival Mezeron’s Douglas to Liverpool lift-on, lift-off container service. Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward told iomtoday a ‘significant proportion’ of freight revenue had been lost. He said: ‘This is very, very bad news for the Isle of Man. We have to fight this. This is about the survival of a company that has served the Isle of Man well for 180 years.’ Mr Woodward said freight revenue subsidised passengers fares and to retain and win back freight business, rates would have to reduced which would mean passengers’ fares going up. But with the user agreement putting a cap on fare increases, the other option was to cut back on passenger services which he said were presently ‘well in excess’ of the bare minimum set out by the user agreement with the government.

Filmography

Steam Packet ships have been used in a number of films. Examples include Chariots of Fire where the team travel on a Steam Packet vessel with the Liver Building clearly visible. In the Barbra Streisand film, Yentl the ship carrying emigrants to the United States at the end of the film is the Manxman. The Ben-my-Chree [6] was used in 2004 as a double for an English Channel ferry in the film On a Clear Day. The Lady of Mann was also used in the 2004 film Mickybo and Me.

See also

• Ellan Vannin
• HMS Ben-my-Chree

References

• Most of the contents of this article have come from the company's own web site.
• Working the Sea, television documentary, BBC North West (2006) (Working the Sea feature - BBC Isle of Man website)

External links

• Official Website
• Marine Accident Investigation Branch: report into the Sea Express 1 & Alaska Rainbow collision (September 2007)
• Picture postcards of Steam Packet vessels from 1830 to the present day