ISLE OF MAN
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s new £78 million vessel, Manxman, was officially handed over toAndy Atkinson and with Dean Ellis as chief engineer. Manxman’s journey via the Suez Canal was due to end with a stop in Southern England for what are described as ‘final fittings’ for the vessel, which was designed by naval architects Houlder to carry 949 passengers. Her length has been kept to 133m to enable the 14,000gt Manxman to use the mainland port of Heysham. She will offer three-and-a-half-hour crossings from island capital Douglas and some seasonal sailings from Douglas to Liverpool or Belfast. The vessel offers top quality lounges and restaurants, and the Steam Packet hope to have her in service for this year’s Isle of Man TT Motor Cycle Races. Manxman takes over as principal Steam Packet vessel from the 12,504gt Ben-My-Chree, which was built by Van der Giessen in 1998.
