The Manx public are being invited to have their say on the island’s future sea services agreement in a survey that will open on Monday.

The agreement, a replacement for the current user agreement with the Steam Packet, will define the services and standards which need to be delivered by a ferry service provider in exchange for the exclusive use of the link-span.

Tim Baker MHK, member for ports, said: ’Developing a new sea services agreement presents the opportunity to think about what local residents and businesses want and need from our maritime links.

’As island residents we know the importance of having robust provision to ensure goods and supplies can be transported all year round and we also understand the need to have reliable and effective routes for tourism in both directions.

’How these can be protected and improved are often the subject of much debate and this survey offers the chance to record your views. It will be open for just two weeks, so please take the opportunity to have your say.’

While the statement from the Department of Infrastructure launches the consultation and refer to a ’ferry provider’, the new agreement was part of Tynwald’s decision to buy the Steam Packet.

The government decided that with the purchase being complete, it wanted a new agreement between the DoI and the Steam Packet.

The online survey is split into three parts, with separate sections for individual passengers, an employer or business in the freight/shipping sector and an employer or business owner in the tourism sector.

Each part covers multiple choice options under sea services, customer services and additional services, with the opportunity to provide more detailed observations towards the end.

The survey can be found by visiting the online consultation hub at https://consult.gov.im

And anyone unable to access the consultation hub, can attain a paper version of the survey can be requested by emailing [email protected], phoning 686613 or at the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal.

The consultation will end on October 7.