Steam Packet provides update on £78m flagship as return target remains on track

The Steam Packet’s £78m flagship Manxman has reached another milestone in its repairs, with specialist machining completed on bearing carriers as work continues towards a planned return to service towards the end of November.

In an update on Tuesday, October 27, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said work on the vessel’s propulsion system was progressing alongside maintenance and refurbishment work at the Balaena Birkenhead dry dock.

Specialist contractor MarineShaft A/S has completed machining work on the bearing carriers and carried out additional alignment checks.

Contractors have also confirmed that work has started on the bearings, with delivery remaining on schedule.

Once the components arrive, work can begin on the ferry’s port-side propulsion system.

The update comes as Manxman enters its second week in dry dock following specialist repairs to its two propulsion shafts, liners and bearings in Denmark.

The ferry has been out of service since July, when wear was identified on the propulsion shafts and associated components during routine dry-docking work.

The shafts, liners and bearings were removed and sent to MarineShaft in Hirtshals, Denmark, for specialist repairs before being returned for refitting.

The Steam Packet has continued to target a return towards the end of November, although the vessel will need to undergo refitting, recommissioning and sea trials before resuming passenger services.

Alongside the propulsion work, other maintenance tasks are progressing across the ship.

Repainting on the starboard side is nearing completion, with only the vessel’s lettering left to finish.

Car Deck 3 has also been recoated, with work due to move on to Deck 5 next.

The company said the dry-dock programme remained focused on ensuring the vessel’s long-term reliability and performance, with work continuing across several areas.

The repairs follow the discovery of wear affecting both propulsion shaft assemblies and associated components.

The Steam Packet has previously estimated the total cost of repairs and dry-docking at around £5m, with the bill expected to be met from its own reserves.

The figure is higher than the £2.5m threshold previously notified to Treasury, which the company clarified was the point at which shareholder consent was required rather than its final estimate of the bill.

Managing director Brian Thomson has said an independent report has been commissioned into the cause of the wear, with the company seeking to recover costs through insurance and warranty where appropriate.

He added that the company was conscious of its position as a publicly owned business and as a ‘vital link’ in the island's infrastructure.

‘Prudent financial planning is a cornerstone of how we manage the business, operating within our means at all times,’ he said.

‘Therefore, we always ensure there are contingency funds to cover unforeseen eventualities such as this.’

The Steam Packet has said it will continue to provide updates on Manxman’s progress as work advances.

Documents released under Freedom of Information legislation previously revealed concerns among the Steam Packet board that sediment in Douglas Harbour may have contributed to degradation of the shaft bearings and liners.

However, no definitive link has been established, and the independent report is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the wear.