Passenger watchdog TravelWatch has welcomed the new draft sea services agreement, which it said will ’secure the future of the island’s lifeline ferry services’.

The watchdog said that it welcomes the ’proposals for the freezing of passenger fares’ which, pending Tynwald approval, will be in place until the replacement for the Ben-my-Chree is delivered in late 2021 or 2022.

TravelWatch added: ’The 50% discount for student fares are also welcome.

’We commend the suggested flexible strategy regarding the Manannan replacement, and careful thought must be given as to whether a future ro-pax is "fast" or not.’

TravelWatch is also continuing to advocate for the establishment of an official user body to ’ensure that other issues not addressed in the proposed new user agreement are addressed, for the benefit of service users’.

In its statement regarding the new agreement, TravelWatch referenced a report by Thames Head Shipping Advisers which is on the gov.im website dated March 7, 2019.

In the report, THSA reported it had held discussions with groups of users and identified and assessed the potential options for a replacement of vessels.

The consultants reported that customers and the freight industry ’would welcome improved dialogue with the Steam Packet’ and to be ’consulted’ on the specifications of new vessels.

conclusions

In its conclusions, THSA said it would ’almost certainly’ be beneficial to have a closer alignment between the island’s social and economic needs in relation to the Steam Packet.

This would include ’initiating a regular process of customer engagement and consultation’ with the various sectors of the economy which rely on the Steam Packet.However, TravelWatch has some criticism of the new agreement.

The establishment of five-year reviews is ’too infrequent and clearly do not satisfy the consultant’s recommendations for a process of regular customer engagement and consultation’, it says.

One area that TravelWatch has been keen to stress is the need for improvements to sail and rail services to and from the island.

The THSA report also noted this that the ’tourism industry would like to see better co-ordination of sail and rail services’.

TravelWatch said it ’remains concerned’ at the lack of consultation regarding train connections to the UK ports.

It added: ’The proposed new user agreement appears to ignore any need to improve connections at Heysham.’

TravelWatch has previously raised concerns over the ’apparent lack of provision of bus services’ to the new ferry terminal in Liverpool.