Ferry passengers may enjoy a new level of comfort on the Steam Packet but at the expense of faster journeys.

A new sea services agreement was ordered by Tynwald to be hammered out by the Steam Packet and the Department of Infrastructure within one year of the company being brought into public ownership last May.

It will replace the current user agreement which was created initially in 1995.

Under the current user agreement, the Steam Packet had to have a fast craft.

However, under the new sea services agreement, the company will be able to operate either a fast craft or a ’fast conventional ferry’.

During the public consultation last year, it was suggested that the fast craft service currently operated by Manannan, which takes about two-and-a-half hours, could be replaced by an about ’three-and-half- to four-hour journey on a conventional ferry’.

While this service could operate all year round, it would involve one overnight departure, as it is with the Ben-my-Chree sailings from Heysham.

DoI Minister Ray Harmer, speaking to Manx Radio, was non-commital, saying that what replaces the Manannan is a ’debate for 2026’.

Mr Harmer added: ’The key thing is the £70m investment but it doesn’t necessarily mean crossing times will go up. It may be that we replace it will a fast craft.’

Under a section that relates to customer service, the potential agreement states that respondents to the public consultation last year said they sought a more ’cruise-style experience’. Visitors to the island expressed similar sentiments.

The agreement continues: ’With such a service provided, the duration of crossings may become less of a consideration, as a more comfortable, enjoyable crossing compensates for a marginal increase in journey time.

’Equally there are opportunities with an improved passenger experience and premium facilities to "upsell" retail and leisure facilities maximising further passenger spend whilst on board.’

We have previously reported that the consultation had explored dropping the fast craft in favour of a more conventional ferry service which would take between three and four hours from Douglas to Liverpool.

Our Freedom of Information request also revealed that a report presented to ministers in July 2017, suggests that the government should seek to operate two ro-pax vessels, that could operate from any of the ports the Steam Packet is either based at, or visits all year round.

However, during the consultation, 2,970 (61.1%) of respondents said they wanted to retain the fast craft service to Liverpool rather than replace it with a conventional service.

A survey of businesses in the tourism sector also indicated ’a slight preference for a fast craft sailing to Liverpool seven months of the year, rather than a slower journey available all year round’.

The Steam Packet will be committed to spending at least £70m on two replacement vessels if Tynwald votes to sign off on the agreement later this month.

The two current vessels will be replaced - the Ben-my-Chree, by the end of 2021, and the Manannan by the end of 2026.

Under the new agreement, the Steam Packet would serve the island with a ’minimum of 947’ sailings to the north west of England per year, which is a slight increase on the current 936 sailings.

These will include, eight sailings per week to Liverpool in summer and two per week in the winter.

Under the terms of the DoI’s agreement with Peel Ports for the use of the Princes Half-Tide Dock, the Steam Packet is not to use it ’for the movement of freight, except in case of emergency where alternative facilities at Heysham or Birkenhead are unavailable.

It must not exceed the permitted transportation of up to 10 unaccompanied trailers on Saturdays and Sundays from November to March.

Heysham in Lancashire will continue to be serviced by two services a day to continue to meet the island’s retail demands for fresh products, but this will not be a year round service due to other resource requirements.

The Steam Packet will also commit to 52 sailings to the island of Ireland per year.

That’s a cut from the current user agreement’s 69. Currently, the winter sailings are ’not commercially viable’.

As the consultation last year indicated ’customers would rather have a better summer service than a poor year-round service, clause 3.9.3 seeks to meet survey preferences while removing the requirements for uneconomic services that detract from the popular and profitable Liverpool services’.

To ensure that Ireland is still serviced, the agreement has made provisions for another operator to provide an Irish link during the winter months.

As there was no preference for either Belfast or Dublin, the Steam Packet is free to sail to either port to meet its sailing requirements.

However, it would appear Dublin is favoured as neither the Ben-my-Chree nor Manannan can load freight or coaches in Belfast and this may hit potential growth in trade and tourism, so any improvement in this area would require a different berth in the Northern Ireland capital.

There may be a greater availability of services from Ireland after 2021 ’on a trial basis using the Ben-my-Chree when it is replaced in regular service and becomes the third, back-up vessel’.

Due to uncertainty over Brexit, an ’Ireland Re-set’ therefore allows the DoI to revisit the number of sailings to Ireland ’within 12 months from the date on which the UK formally leaves the EU or before the first anniversary of the date on which the new vessel commences the provision of services’.