The Steam Packet is drawing up its outline specifications for replacement vessels for the Ben-my-Chree and Manannan.

Both vessels’ conditions were classified as ’good’ in a due diligence report carried out ahead of the government’s deal to buy the Steam Packet for £124m.

Although the government is now the 100% shareholder of the company, it says it will keep its day-to-day running at arm’s length.

That could explain Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer’s cautious answer to a written Tynwald question from Kate Beecroft (Douglas South).

The Liberal Vannin leader, who has been the most vocal critic of the deal, wanted to know what progress had been made on drawing up specifications for replacement vehicles.

Mr Harmer said his department believes the Steam Packet is in the process of developing an outline specification for replacement vessels for the Manannan and the Ben-my-Chree.

But he added that the outline work is not yet complete because the department is ’still accessing the socio-economic factors that would help to shape the new user agreement’.

Mr Harmer said the Steam Packet would be looking to replace the two vessels with ’multi-purpose vessels which are equipped to handle passengers, vehicles and freight’.

He confirmed his department is considering specifying the use of vessels capable of using liquefied natural gas and/or low sulphur diesel as part of the next User Agreement.

The proposed new terminal at Princes Half-Tide Dock, Liverpool, was expected to be able to cope with freight as well as passengers, he said - although contract and planning conditions may be applied.

Tynwald has approved spending of up to £3.5m to buy the site for the new ferry terminal at Liverpool, but Mr Harmer confirmed this week that the deal had yet to be finalised, as previously reported by Isle of Man Newspapers.

He also revealed that a planning application for the new ferry terminal has not even been submitted.

’Planning approval has not yet been sought for the new ferry terminal,’ he said. ’A public consultation exercise will commence shortly, prior to submission.’

Meanwhile, Rob Callister (Onchan) wanted to know whether the current contract between the Steam Packet and Peel Holdings, could be extended to give access beyond 2019, to cover any break in time before the new ferry terminal came into operation.

Mr Harmer told him: ’The department has no contractual rights regarding the current landing stage at Pier Head, Liverpool, and is not party to the detailed contractual agreement between the Steam Packet and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Ltd, part of the Peel group of companies.

’Nevertheless, the department is including the temporary continuation of usage of the existing site into its agreement for the new site assuming the landing stage is still in a serviceable condition for vessel berthing.

facilities

’At the present time, the proposed date for opening new facilities at the Princes Half Dock is the end of March 2020, therefore the current landing stage will still be in use on January 1 2020 and when the 2020 TT bookings formally open to the public in 2019.’

A Liverpool council spokesman told the Manx Independent: ’Liverpool City Council is working closely with the Isle of Man Government to support them in the development of their new ferry terminal.

’These are complex engineering schemes, which involve regular communication between all parties and this will continue throughout the entire process.’

Meanwhile, Mr Harmer confirmed that, as part of its registration, Manannan needed to be inspected in dry dock on an annual basis and the Ben-my-Chree every two years. Both went into dry dock this year.

The classification of the Ben-my-Chree is with the Lloyds Register while Manannan’s is with Det Norske Veritas Gemanischer Lloyd. The Steam Packet also holds a copy but they are not available for public inspection.

The summary valuation and due diligence reports into the Packet’s purchase can be seen at www.gov.im/treasury