The Minister for Infrastructure will be speaking to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company about the continuing silt issue in Heysham harbour.

Tim Crookall is having the meeting following the problems the company has experienced this week, which has affected several sailings.

The Packet had to make the changes after reading the depth chart report at Heysham.

On Monday, the evening sailing, which was due to leave Douglas at 7.45pm, left at 9pm. The return sailing from Heysham also left an hour later than scheduled at 3.15pm.

On Tuesday, silt and low tides at Heysham continued to cause problems.

The 8.45am sailing left Douglas 30 minutes later than scheduled, and the evening sailing from Douglas left 45 minutes earlier than scheduled, at 7pm.

Passengers were told to book in by 6.30pm as a result. The situation remained the same yesterday (Wednesday), when the morning sailing also left 45 minutes earlier than scheduled at 8am, and the evening sailing departed an hour early, at 6.45pm.

This morning’s ferry, which was scheduled to leave at 2.15am, actually left Heysham at 11.45pm last night (Wednesday), as the ’increased siltation in Heysham Port continues to restrict the movement of the Ben-my-Chree’.

Silting in the harbour makes it difficult for the Ben-my-Chree to manoeuvre in lower tides.

As the Manx Independent went to press, the siltation issue did not appear to be affecting any further sailings.

We asked the Steam Packet how many sailings are likely to be disrupted in the near future, and whether there was any active dredging work being done to mitigate the problem.

A spokesperson for the company said: ’All passengers have been informed of schedule changes which ensure the company can carry out routes and keep sailing going as close to timetabled as possible.

’At present these are all the changes we’re aware of, of course our website is a good resource to check if this changes.

’Dredging is the responsibility of Peel Ports (owners of Heysham Port).’

The number of sailings affected this week has had an inevitable knock-on impact on freight reaching the island.

Warnings were issued regarding the Douglas to Heysham ferry, which left on Wednesday at 6.45pm, and the return ferry which departed from Heysham at 11.45pm, that they would ’carry very limited freight, if any, depending on time’.

The company did however confirm that ’to ensure its lifeline services to and from the island, [we] have organised for MS Arrow to return to service to assist with freight’.

The silt issue has raised further questions around the expensive Liverpool ferry terminal development, which is now forecast to cost over £70 million.

Despite the cost of the development, the terminal’s function will not change.

freight

The Steam Packet spokesperson said: ’The new Liverpool terminal will work on the same basis as [the] current [one]. It will only handle freight if Heysham is not operational, however it is not the intention to use Liverpool for freight.’

Meanwhile, an official ceremony has been held in South Korea to mark the beginning of the formal construction of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s new flagship ferry, Manxman.

The Manxman, is scheduled to begin service in our waters in spring 2023.

The keel-laying ceremony, which traditionally invites good luck in the construction of a ship and throughout her life, took place at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan on Christmas Eve.

Attended by project managers, Naval architects and surveyors working on the vessel, alongside officials from the shipyard, the milestone event saw the first block of the ship lowered into the building dock and a coin placed under the keel.

The centuries-old tradition is also said to bring luck to the captain and crew during the life of the ship.

The Manxman will be able to carry 949 passengers and have 495 square metres additional space for freight and vehicles.

Steam Packet managing director Brian Thomson said: ’The laying of the keel is one of the most significant dates in that ship’s life and, in effect, marks her birth.

’Not only was it wonderful to mark such a significant landmark and hold a ceremony respecting maritime custom but it also signifies that after years of careful planning, along with plate and panel work and block construction in recent months, the construction of Manxman can now begin in earnest.

’The project team is working incredibly hard and, as a company, we are looking to the future with anticipation and excitement as we keep the island community up-to-date with the progress.’

When asked if the Manxman will be as affected by silt issues as the Ben-my-Chree is, the spokesperson said: ’The Manxman has been designed with this in mind. While Manxman is a larger vessel the draft itself is the same as Ben-my-Chree.’