Steam Packet stand in vessels found?
14th February, 2012
During question time in the House of Keys on Tuesday 14th February, Onchan MHK Zac Hall asked Chief Minister Allan Bell what framework was in place to guarantee the Isle of Man's strategic lifeline.
Mr Bell responded that it may be easier for the Steam Packet to find short-term relief ferries in the future from Scottish Government owned Caledonian Macbrayne or Northlink Ferries.
This follows on from the announcement that a large capacity freighter has been chartered from Northlink Ferries for the dry dock period when Ben My Chree goes for biennial refit while Manannan will cover all passenger and car services, as she did during the Ben’s last overhaul in 2010.
The chartered freighter will be either MV Helliar or her sister ship, MV Hildasay, with a decision made by Northlink nearer the charter period.
