The Steam Packet is making a number of changes to its published schedule for sailings to Larne and Heysham as it targets a November return to service for its flagship Manxman.

The Ben-my-Chree will operate a modified Larne, Liverpool and Heysham schedule until the end of November, or until Manxman’s return to service, whichever is sooner. This means several sailings have been cancelled.

The Wednesday return sailings to the Northern Ireland port on November 11, 18 and 25 will now not run.

The current Friday and Monday sailings move to Thursday and Sunday overnight sailings to maintain the route’s connectivity.

As a knock-on effect the Thursday and Sunday overnight Ben-my-Chree passenger sailings to Heysham are cancelled (six return sailings in total).

Freight services will be maintained by Arrow, sailing overnight to Heysham on Thursdays and Sundays.

As in previous years, Manannan will finish her seasonal sailings on November 4 before entering her winter lay-up.

This year that transition falls while Manxman is still completing repairs so, for a short period, the company will run a reduced schedule to Merseyside.

Any passenger whose booking is affected will be contacted directly by the ferry operator’s reservations team, in travel-date order, and assisted with alternative arrangements.

Where no suitable alternative sailing is available, passengers will be entitled to a full refund.

The company has a dedicated Manxman information and question and answer page on its website and will publish updates every week until the vessel returns to service, or sooner when there is news.

The flagship vessel’s two propulsion shafts are currently undergoing specialist repairs in Demark. It is expected to return to service by the end of November.