The government’s plans for the redevelopment of Douglas harbour include provision for a specific new vessel.

The fact that the proposals are so detailed - and compiled without the Steam Packet - suggests that the government is laying the groundwork for a future in which the privately-owned ferry company no longer serves the island.

The harbour strategy and the supporting technical information documents, which were published last week, both indicate the Department of Infrastructure’s plans include making the harbour capable of berthing a potential new vessel and a new linkspan for the Victoria Pier.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ’We are aware of the government’s proposed harbour strategy. We have not had any input on that strategy, but if government requests our views, we will respond.’

The potential new vessel is explicitly referred to in the technical information document, produced by engineering consultants Royal HaskoningDHV, saying: ’Our understanding is that the Heysham Max vessel will be 142 metres long and have a beam of 25m and a draft of 5.7m.’ In both documents, the vessel is refered to as as a ’Seatruck Heysham Max’, so called as the dimensions of 142 metres long, 25 metres wide with a draught of 5.7 metres is the maximum sized vessel that could pass in and out of Heysham port. The new vessel would be larger than the Ben-my-Chree, by about 17m in length and 1.5m in width.

A spokesman for the Steam Packet told the Examiner it had ’no plans at this stage for new vessels’.

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Mr Woodward added: ’We have discussed our fleet investment plans as part of the strategic sea services agreement strategy with the DoI on several occasions, so government is aware of our proposals.’

The Examiner reported in December that ministers were considering buying the Steam Packet. At the time, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said: ’The government is looking at a range of options. We continue to discuss the user agreement with the Steam Packet.

’Nothing is off the table. We will continue to look for the best deal for the island to maintain its strategic services.’

DoI Minister Ray Harmer said that the age of the current fleet meant the island would need new vessels but pointed out the reports stated that the current fleet often only operated at an average capacity of 37%.

The 2017 DoI report into strategic sea services agreement said: ’If vessel ownership is a route which Tynwald wished to progress, now could be the optimum time to do so.

’Shipyards are reported to be now short of orders and likely to remain so for the next three to four years.

’Given the lead time to develop the specification and design of ferries, this could provide Isle of Man Government with a window of opportunity.’

The new technical report also suggests adding a new mooring to the end of the King Edward VIII pier to take a bow line from the larger vessel.

To accommodate the ’Heysham Max’ vessel, part of the £80m harbour plan includes dredging within the harbour which will ensure any new vessel can manoeuvre within the harbour while a new linkspan would allow any vessel to dock on the Victoria Pier, not only fast craft as is currently the case.

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The Steam Packet and the linkspan agreement are also referred to within the harbour strategy, in particular the Steam Packet-owned linkspan on the Victoria Pier, which serves the Manannan.

At present, there is agreement to use the linkspan on DoI property, however this expires at the same time as the user agreement in 2026.

The report suggests the DoI has considered buying a replacement.

It says: ’The current linkspan would be approximately 50 years old in 2026. Any replacement that was funded by the department would cost between £9.46m and £10.56m to construct, at current prices.

’Under current arrangements, this work could not start before the end of the current linkspan user agreement.’

If this is the case, the potential for a new vessel and of a second government owned linkspan coupled with Tynwald’s rejection of the Steam Packet’s offer in July 2017 points to nationalisation of the island’s ferry services being a serious possibility.

The Steam Packet, which is currently owned by a Portuguese bank, Banco Espírito Santo, is required to fulfil the terms of a user agreement negotiated with the Manx government.

These include guarantees for number of sailings to and from the island.

The current user agreement is due to expire in 2026.

In July Tynwald voted not to accept the Steam Packet offer to government to extend that agreement and to opt instead to continue negotiations for a better deal.

The Packet’s offer had included a pledge to invest £170m in a new fleet, facilities and fare initiatives.