People looking for work in the public sector will find now it easier if they have access to the internet.

The government is replacing its paper-based recruitment process with an online version.

A vacancies website launched today (Monday) enables candidates to search, view and apply for public service jobs on the internet.

The government says the e-recruitment system will speed up the process for both the employer and prospective employee, cutting the administration time spent on processing applications.

Applicants will be able to register for tailored job alerts and will receive notifications when a vacancy becomes available that meets the criteria they have set.

As an applicant progresses through the recruitment process they will also be able to monitor the progress of their application, arrange interviews and accept offers all through the online facility.

The new system was developed by the Office of Human Resources.

The executive director of the Office of Human Resources, Jon Callister, said: ‘Although the overall size of government’s workforce is shrinking, it still deals with several thousand job applications every year, and under the old process that created a lot of time-consuming paperwork.

‘The new system should be much more efficient and effective for both government and its prospective employees. This is another good example of government streamlining its internal workings to make better use of public resources.’

All vacancies are now available at {www.jobtrain.co.uk/iomgovjobs|this site.}

Manx Telecom has warned customers that there could be ‘reduced localised mobile coverage’ as it installs its 4G (fourth generation) network.

The phone company’s 4G network ‘roll-out’ starts on Wednesday.

As part of the company’s £10 million investment in the technology which it says will bring superfast mobile broadband to the island this summer, the project involves the creation of an entirely new mobile network.

The latest phase requires infrastructure to be installed at mobile network sites around the island but in the short term may cause some localised disruption to the availability of the mobile network.

David Smith, Manx Telecom’s marketing director, said: ‘We are determined to bring our customers a world class 4G service and our technicians and engineers will be starting a new phase of work this week, with the aim of launching the network this summer.

‘Work now has to be carried out on our mobile sites across the island starting on April 9 running through to May 19, ensuring all scheduled work is complete ahead of the busy TT period.

‘For each mobile site we have allocated a time slot for this work to take place, and within each time slot there may be reduced localised mobile coverage for anything from one to six hours.

‘In addition, there are a few areas that will be without mobile coverage because there are no nearby mobile sites which can offer alternative coverage.

‘The safety of engineers is of paramount importance, so this work must take place during daylight hours.

‘Our aim is to minimise service disruption for customers and whilst the work will be carried out as quickly as possible, there may be delays due to bad weather – for example, if it is unsafe for engineers to scale masts due to high winds. We are contacting all of our mobile customers by text to inform them of what’s happening and we’ll also be providing them with the following link to our website, to ensure they can find the latest information and progress online at {www.manxtelecom.com/4g|www.manxtelecom.com/4g}.’

When 4G arrives this summer it will allow customers to download music, upload photos, play games, stream films and watch HDTV, faster than ever before with upload and download speeds up to seven times faster than those currently experienced on their 3G network.

The company said that trials had also given clear indications that 4G would mean better mobile coverage indoors and outdoors.

High school students are being put through their paces by a team of visiting soldiers this week as part of an innovative programme aimed at assisting personal development.

Members of the 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) work with young people throughout the North West region to help improve communication, leadership, mechanical and teamwork skills.

The activities and training exercises are carefully structured to give participants an insight into the core values and standards required to serve in the Army.

The intention is to encourage skills and behaviours that will boost confidence and make young people more employable when they leave school.

Nine soldiers will be working in conjunction with members of the Isle of Man’s Youth Justice Team to deliver development days. The first one took place today (Monday) at Castle Rushen, and continue tomorrow at Queen Elizabeth II, Ramsey Grammar School on Wednesday, St Ninian’s on Thursday and Ballakermeen on Friday.

Captain Hendrik Steutel, who is leading the sessions, said: ‘These events are not about showing what the Army is like. We focus on helping young people to better themselves through their own hard work and effort. Hopefully participants will take away with them elements of our values and standards that will make them more employable and respected in the future.’

Members of the 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers), many of whom have served alongside regular soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, organise the personal development days as a way of supporting local communities. They will be working with up to 30 young people at each high school in the Isle of Man during the course of the week, guiding them through special command tasks, teamwork exercises and fitness assessments. Students will also have an opportunity to get to grips with one of the regiment’s highly-equipped Wolf Land Rovers, helping to diagnose a mechanical problem.

Juan Watterson MHK, Minister for Home Affairs and the Isle of Man’s Armed Forces Champion, has been involved in organising the visit. He said: ‘This is an example of the Armed Forces Community Covenant for the Isle of Man in action, clearly demonstrating what the Armed Forces can do for us, as well as what we can do for the Armed Forces. The visit will provide a fantastic opportunity for our young people.’

A fresh appeal for homeowners to join the Homestay programme and provide accommodation for visiting TT fans has been launched.

The Regency Travel team, which now runs the scheme, wants to hear from anyone who has a spare room available and can offer guests accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, or would consider renting out their entire property.

Homestay can be offered during TT for any number of nights between May 23 and June 7 inclusive and homes are required to be inspected by Regency Travel before being registered for the scheme.

Participants are paid for accommodating tourists.

Homestay registration closes on April 25 and Regency is unable to accept any applications after this date.

Representatives of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity have thanked the people of the Isle of Man for their support following their recent visit.

Fundraising managers Louise Beach and Jade Barrett hosted a series of thank you events and a well-attended public information day last month to raise awareness of the charity’s work.

Miss Beach said: ‘We were overwhelmed by the amount of support that people wanted to give to Clatterbridge, and the really positive feedback we received from former patients and their families.’

The Clatterbridge centre is one of the largest cancer centres in the UK, treating up to 28,000 patients each year including more than 1,000 Manx people.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity raises funds to benefit patients and their families, funding research, equipment and support services such as the relatives’ accommodation that provides a home from home to the loved ones of patients during treatments.

Miss Beach continued: ‘Clatterbridge is the island’s cancer centre - any cancer treatment at Noble’s hospital is offered by Clatterbridge, from the consultants to the nursing staff.

‘We have two consultants that travel to the island every week, where they treat around 20 patients, and we see around 300 new patients every year in the island.

‘We are the only charity that directly raises funds to benefit Clatterbridge cancer patients across the region, including the Isle of Man.

The UK-based charity does not have a Manx equivalent, which has restricted its ability to fundraise locally and raise awareness of their work.

Miss Beach added: ‘There are so many people in the island who have been helped by Clatterbridge.

‘People might forget we’re here because we’re based in the UK, but they can still support us through donations.’

For more information about the charity visit www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk

Manx landlords are seeking a meeting with the chief minister to air their concerns about proposed new legislation controlling the private letting of houses and flats.

Among the proposals are a register of all private landlords who rent out accommodation, as well as a list of rights and obligations imposed on both parties to the agreement.

But at the landlords’ latest meeting, held this week at the South Douglas Old Friends’ Club, members decided further negotiations were needed on the proposals.

Group spokesman Stephen Moore said the consensus was the proposals were too one-sided.

‘We still consider that there’s not sufficient balance and consequently we are seeking an early meeting with the Chief Minister to present our concerns and find a way forward,’ he said.

‘We are not trying to kick this into the long grass but we do consider at the moment we have done as much as we can. The Department of Social Care, by its nature, wants to look after the people and the Manx Landlords’ Association are investors who work in a regulated industry and want it to be fair, and we don’t consider at the moment we have got a fair balance.’

Mr Moore said while there was a great deal of responsibility placed on landlords, he did not feel there were reciprocal obligations placed on tenants.

He said draconian punishments for failing to comply – fines of up to £20,000, six months in prison and rent refunds, despite tenants having had a roof over their heads – were disproportionate. In contrast, he said there was still no easy way to evict a destructive or non-paying tenant, and little in the way of obligations placed on tenants.

In the near future, the association is to have a presentation from the Department of Health and Social Care when members can ask questions about the proposals.

They are also hoping to refer the draft legislation for consideration by a legislative committee before anything is finalised.

A mountaineer has returned a Manx flag to the Chief Minister after taking it to the top of one of the world’s highest peaks.

Phil Drowley received the flag from Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK prior to setting off to scale Carstensz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea.

He famously took another Manx flag to the top of the world’s highest mountain, Everest, in 2008, and that has been on display in the Chief Minister’s office ever since.

Philreached the top of the 15,629ft pyramid, Australasia’s tallest peak, on November 11 and in doing so joined an elite group of around 230 climbers to have summited the highest mountains in every continent.

He proudly flew the latest flag at the summit.

As well as Carstensz Pyramid and Everest (28,320ft), Phil has flown a Manx flag on the summit of Vinson Massif in Antarctica (15,670ft), Aconcagua in South America (22,267ft), Denali in North America (19,821ft), Kilimanjaro in Africa (18,864ft) and Europe’s Mount Elbrus (18,054ft).

Congratulating Phil on his latest achievement, the Chief Minister said: ‘He has put the Isle of Man on the map with his adventures and, in realising his dream of summiting the highest peak in each continent, has reached the pinnacle of endeavour in his sport and achieved something only a handful of climbers have ever done.

‘The island is rightly proud of him.’

Phil, 46, a chief inspector with the police, also presented the £1,509.50 proceeds of his latest climb to Ronald McDonald House Isle of Man Families and Friends.

Ronald McDonald Houses are attached to hospitals in big cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow and accommodate families whose children are patients. The local charity has raised £350,000 for Ronald McDonald Houses.

Phil started his 14-year mountaineering journey with four police colleagues when they climbed Kilimanjaro in 2000.

TUESDAY

CARLISLE CARD: 2.20 Supreme Asset 2.50 Moss Cloud 3.20 Lookout Mountain 3.50 CHAMPAGNE AGENT (NB) 4.25 Dickie Henderhoop 4.55 Sergeant Pink 5.25 Bryden Boy

PONTEFRACT: 2.10 Life and Times 2.40 High Love 3.10 Kenny The Captain 3.40 Daring Indian 4.15 Las Verglas Star 4.45 Two Smart 5.15 CATHEDRAL (NAP)

SOUTHWELL: 2.0 Basil The Great 2.30 Va Benny 3.0 Sam Spade 3.30 Recession Proof 4.05 Come On Sunshine 4.35 Spitfire 5.05 Prince Of Passion

A Douglas council tenant evicted from his flat claimed in court that losing his home would infringe his human rights.

He had racked up arrears when he was in jail.

This week’s Isle of Man Examiner has the full story.

Also in the paper:

>Could the Isle of Man have a windfall from wind farms?

>Minister Chris Robertshaw tells us about his new job, transforming the Manx government

>We have the second part of our series of features about being unemployed. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/being-out-of-work-anything-but-easy-1-6533974|The first has sparked a big debate among readers here}

>A previously unpublished work from the late {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald_Fraser|George MacDonald Fraser}, who lived in the island, has been unearthed.

>We look forward to a new vessel starting work for the Steam Packet

>Our business coverage has never been just about Athol Street. Today, we meet a woman whose private hire car business is called The Lady Chauffeurs.

>We also report on a Financial Times columnist who says the island is a tax haven, in spite of the government’s efforts over recent years to shed the term

With our action-packed sports section, the lively letters pages, Terry Cringle’s nostalgia and the island’s social diary, the Examiner is an essential read.

It’s in the shops now.

Tuesday, April 8

JCK Division Two

6pm Colby v Ronaldsway

JCK Combination Two

6pm Gymns v Onchan

----------

Wednesday, April 9

Canada Life Premier League

6pm St George’s v St Mary’s

7pm St John’s v Michael

6pm Union Mills v Laxey

JCK Division Two

6pm Douglas Royal v Gymns

6pm Pulrose v Marown

6pm Foxdale v Onchan

Canada Life Combination One

6.15pm St Mary’s v Michael

6pm Laxey v Union Mills

JCK Combination Two

6pm Marown v Foxdale

Proposed changes to the law on trusts aim to stop the island losing business to our competitors.

MHKs voted unanimously to give the Trusts (Amendment) Bill its second reading in the House of Keys.

Treasury member Bill Henderson said the amendments involved abolition of the law requiring there must be two trustees when land is sold. Other amendments will see the 150-year perpetuity period scrapped while the law to protect local trusts against outside court orders will be strengthened.

The aim is to make the island more competitive and on a level with other jurisdictions such as the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Mr Henderson told MHKs: ‘The amendments are modest and conservative’.

Mr Henderson explained the concept of a perpetuity period was introduced in the 17th century with the aim of preventing too much money being tied up for too long in too few hands.

He said a settlor who has ‘made a pot of money’ he wants to leave to his descendants would likely choose to create a trust in Ireland, Jersey of Guernsey as these jurisdictions don’t still have a perpetuity period in place. Mr Henderson said while it’s unlikely a trust will last in perpetuity, nevertheless the perception exists that it would.

‘The island is losing business. This is a good reason for seeking to abolish the perpetuity period – it’s a business friendly initiative,’ he said.

Respected financial journalist Merryn Somerset Webb is fascinated by the Manx pound and believes it is of important interest as the Scottish independence debate rages on.

The Financial Times columnist also believes the Isle of Man is still a tax haven even though UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said in the House of Commons that it is not.

Merryn was in the island as guest speaker at a breakfast and economic briefing organised by Ramsey Crookall.

Later she told Business News: ‘I’ve only just started to learn about the Isle of Man. I spent all of yesterday evening in deep discussions about the tax system.

‘What I really think is interesting is the currency. I’ve been looking into the Manx currency because here we have a Manx pound that is intrinsically linked to the UK pound, but it does not have to be.

‘Scotland is looking to have its own currency that is also linked to the pound and so I want to try and find out a little bit more about how this currency union works with the Manx pound.’

She said the position was slightly different what with the island being ‘in a fabulous financial position and Scotland being in an appalling fiscal position. But it is quite an interesting idea’.

Merryn, who is also editor-in-chief of Money Week and a commentator on economics, financial markets and personal finance, was also full of praise for the island’s economic good health.

She said that with no fiscal debt, high average income and good growth, the island was in a ‘brilliant’ position. She agreed the island appeared to be in a better financial state than the UK. ‘There may be cracks that I haven’t perceived but on paper it’s great.’

She added: ‘I suppose the only fly on the ointment generally is the crackdown across western governments on any kind of tax haven and the Isle of Man is still a tax haven.’

Business News reminded Merryn that last September in the Commons Mr Cameron said the island was not a tax haven.

She replied: ‘Oh really? Do you think he was just being polite?’

Business News pointed out the island’s government had outlined its commitment to full transparency on tax matters. She replied: ‘You can co-operate fully and still be a tax haven.

‘It takes an awful lot of wealthy people out of the UK tax net . . . and that must be jolly irritating.’

Later she took to Twitter to discuss the island’s currency.

Last September Mr Cameron told MPs: ‘I do not think it is fair any longer to refer to any of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies as tax havens. They have taken action to make sure that they have fair and open tax systems.’

It’s a shorter than usual question papers at this week’s Tynald sitting.

But a wide range of subjects are covered - from false allegations of child abuse to the times waterworks teams start work on site.

There are just 16 questions tabled for oral answer and a further 11 for written reply.

Speaker Steve Rodan is asking Chief Minister Allan Bell what consideration he has given to introducing legislation to follow Irish law on deliberate false accusations of child abuse and to make such vexatious referrals a criminal offence.

Mr Rodan has previously raised concerns at the high number of childcare referrals to social services in the island.

Juan Turner MLC clearly has issues with the Glen Vine water main renewal project. He has questions down for both oral and written answer to chairman of the new Manx Utilities Authority Alfred Cannan, asking what time of day teams start and finish work on site each day.

Mr Cannan (Michael) will ask Treasury Minister Eddie Teare how many government departments have overspent their budgets in 2013/14 – and how many will carry forward their overspend into the next financial year.

Kate Beecroft (Lib Van. Douglas South) will quiz the Chief Minister over whether the entire Council of Ministers approved the £775,000 cost of bringing in UK consultants to review the national insurance and social security policy.

The Public Accounts Committee has already begun an investigation into whether that cost, for which Treasury concurrence was given but no Tynwald approval sought, is value for public money.

The island’s bishop, Robert Paterson, and his wife Pauline will join the Isle of Man’s Jewish community to celebrate the Passover Seder on Monday, April 14, in Douglas.

The Seder, which means ‘order’ in Hebrew, is a service normally held at home, however in the island it is held at a hotel as there are usually between 30 and 40 attending the service.

The Seder is always conducted on the first night of Passover and concludes with a dinner.

The prayer book used to work through the order of service is a ‘Haggadah’ (‘the telling’), containing instructions for the Seder, blessings and the Passover story.

The ‘Order’ also refers to the fact that there are 15 parts of the ritual service, all revolving around the Passover dinner.

Food is an important symbolic element of Passover, a holiday full of ritual symbols that retell the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt.

Many of these symbols are displayed on the Seder plate, the centrepiece of the Seder table.

Matzah (or Matzos in plural) is an unleavened bread which is used as a substitute for bread for the eight days of Passover.

The island’s Jewish community is a very mixed group some who have been living on the Isle of Man for more than 30 years and some of whom are more recent arrivals, including some of our Israeli residents.

Here in the Isle of Man, the service is conducted predominantly in English with certain significant sections of the service being read in both Hebrew and English. Inclusiveness is an important theme of Passover and all at the Seder table are given the opportunity to participate, including the youngest members of the community.

If there are any Jewish people living on the Isle of Man who wish to attend the Seder, email Carol Jempson on capajem@manx.net.

Conoisseurs of fine ales will be marking off the days to April 10 when the island’s third CAMRA beer and cider festival throws open its doors to the public once again.

The three-day event which has 125 real ales, ciders and perries, has the official blessing from none other than the bishop - the Right Reverend Robert Paterson – who will be at the Masonic Hall on Woodbourne Road in Douglas to conduct the opening ceremony on Thursday night.

As part of the official opening ceremony he will pull the first pint - not of Bishop’s Finger, the popular Kent brew, but of Bushy’s Airmed Red, specially brewed in support of this year’s good cause.

The new brew will be sold in aid of the Rob Vine Fund which provides medical equipment for use around the TT and Southern 100 courses and 10p from each pint sold will be donated to the cause.

On offer at the festival will be beers from all five of the island’s breweries as well as offerings from all parts of the British Isles, including milds, bitters, pale ales and porters as well as a seven per cent Russian stout. There will be real lagers as well as beers flavoured with chocolate, coffee, toffee, honey, orange, damson, coconut and ginger. Britain’s only green beer will be joined by the only pink beer – Fruits You – specially brewed for the festival using fresh raspberries, by the Hooded Ram brewery in Douglas. Cheques will also be presented to the RNLI, the good cause for 2013, of money raised by Bushy’s and the CAMRA Festival.

On Friday and Saturday the Festival is open to all from 12 noon – 4pm and again from 5pm – 11pm. Friday and Saturday, it is open midday to 4pm and 5pm to 11pm. There is a reduced admission charge for CAMRA members. There will also be live music each night and food on offer.

Leasing the seabed in Manx territorial waters for each offshore wind farm could earn government £5m a year – and create at least 60 jobs.

That’s one of the findings of a Council of Minister’s report on the strategy for offshore energy production, which will be debated at this week’s Tynwald sitting.

There are already a series of plans to build giant wind farms in the Irish Sea beyond the 12-mile limit of Manx waters.

But the CoMin report says that given the shallow depth of water in our territorial seas there was the potential to provide sites for cost effective offshore wind farms supplying renewable energy to the UK.

It states: ‘A significant opportunity therefore exists for the Isle of Man to lease its seabed for the generation of renewable energy for export to assist the UK to meet its national and European renewable energy targets.

‘Leases of the Isle of Man seabed for large offshore wind projects will last 25 years with an option to extend to 50 years and provide revenue to Isle of Man Government worth around £5m per year.’

The report says that emerging technologies such as tidal and wave generation may provide limited income generation in the short term but their long term potential will be significant.

Offshore installations will require onshore operation and maintenance facilities and it is forecasted at least 60 new jobs would be created on any offshore wind farm project site after the construction phase.

CoMin proposes to progress plans to develop up to a maximum of 2GW from offshore wind and 200MW from marine renewable power for export to the UK. Any agreement to lease the seabed would include a future option for the island to purchase a proportion of the renewable energy for our own use.

An expression of interest notice was issued in January 2014 seeking potential developers for offshore wind and tidal projects in Manx territorial seas.

The government is also intending to issue prospecting licenses for hydrocarbon extraction. Initial studies indicate there’s a gas reserve of more than 100 billion cubic feet with a value of about £400m.

A royalty would be levied for extraction which again would mainly be for export to the UK and could generate around £100m over 20 years in revenue.

Offshore gas exploration and extraction could generate jobs in the installation, operation and maintenance of facilities.

CoMin’s report has ruled out ‘fracking’ for shale gas for now, saying it is not currently economically viable and regulatory and environmental issues need to resolved in the UK.

Concerns remain over the impact of wind farms on shipping lanes, aviation, fisheries and wildlife.

The report acknowledges the offshore energy policy has to take into account all these factors.

‘It is accepted it may not be possible to permit renewable energy developments that have a detrimental impact on the island’s air and sea links,’ it states.

A gas leak has led to the closure of a stretch of Belmont Hill in Douglas.

Urgent repairs to a major gas leak will see Belmont Hill closed to traffic between the entrance to the Kingdom Hall and the junction with Peel Road from today until 6pm next Tuesday or until the work is completed.

Access to Belmont Hill from Peel Road will be via Ballakermeen Drive.

A spokesman for Manx Gas said: ‘We apologise for the inconvenience this closure will cause, but the safety of the public while the work to locate and repair the leak takes place is of paramount importance.’

George Blackwell of Port Erin has been bestowed the honour of vice-captaincy for Scotland in an under-16s rugby international against England on Easter Sunday.

The Kirkham Grammar School student scored a try in his Scotland debut against Newcastle Falcons at Edinburgh recently.

Scotland won very comfortably 40-3 and the match was watched on DVD by Rugby Football Union officials who promptly invited Scotland to play the England u16s in the final match of the BMW Wellington College Festival in Berkshire over Easter weekend.

An additional honour for 16-year-old flanker was being named vice-captain of the Scottish national squad for the game.

Isle of Man Sport Aid recipient George started playing rugby at the age of nine. His first club was Southern Nomads, later joining Douglas RUFC. He also represented Castle Rushen High School before switching to Kirkham Grammar School, near Preston.

His fledgling career has mirrored the Scottish exiles’ path of fellow Kirkham student Philip Cringle.

Ian ‘Wagga’ Williams, Isle of Man’s rugby development manager, gave George one-to-one coaching before he moved to Kirkham grammar for specialist training.

He attended a couple of Scottish training camps in Glasgow last month, resulting in his selection for the Newcastle Falcons match.

The Scots will travel to the Wellington Festival on Friday, April 11 for games against Wales (East), England (North) and England Saxons. George would like to thank IoM Sport Aid Foundation for its continued support and facilities.

First year Olympic Development programme member Matty Bostock has been selected to represent Great Britain in the junior edition of Paris-Roubaix this Sunday.

He will be part of a six-rider GB team in the 12th edition of the race, which forms the first event of the UCI Juniors Nations’ Cup.

The other five are Matt Gibson, Joe Evans, Joe Holt, Gabriel Cullaigh and James Shaw. They will race over a 110.8-kilometre route that will include 16 cobbled sections, totalling 28.9-kilometres, and a finish at the iconic Roubaix velodrome in northern France.

Since the junior edition of the iconic one-day classic began in 2003, two British riders have won the race - Geraint Thomas in 2004 and Andy Fenn in 2008.

The senior version, held the same day, covers an even more gruelling 257km, but it is unlikely that any Manx riders will be competing in that.

The young Manx hopeful’s season got off to a solid start with second place in the first round of the Black Grace Cowley Isle of Man senior road race series.

The Isle of Man Sport Aid recipient finished 13th in round two of the British Junior Road Race Championship (Peter Buckley series), the Tour of the Mendips, on Sunday. Full details in the Indy.

After Paris-Roubaix, the 16-year-old from Glen Vine will attend a week-long training camp at Newport. Pre-season he took part in several development world cups (DWC) at the same Newport velodrome, knocking three seconds off his personal best time for the 3,000m pursuit.

This vessel will soon be a familiar sight in Douglas harbour.

MV Arrow is the Steam Packet’s new freight ship and it will begin operating on April 28.

The boat has been secured on a long-term charter. It will cover for Ben-my-Chree while she undergoes her scheduled biennial overhaul.

The overhaul, which will include some of the passenger lounges being refurbished and additional seats being added to the cafe bar, is expected to take around three weeks. During this time, MV Arrow will provide freight services between Douglas and Heysham and Manannan will cover passenger services.

While Ben-my-Chree is in dry dock, Manannan will provide some passenger services between Douglas and Heysham, including the Saturday mornings of May 3, 10 and 17.

This will impact on normal Saturday morning services to Liverpool, but to ensure people who want to enjoy a weekend day trip to the city are able to, the Steam Packet is providing a series of special day excursions on each of these Saturdays.

The day excursions will allow people to sail to Heysham, travel to Liverpool by coach and return to the island the same day from Liverpool. There will also be the option of spending the Saturday night in Liverpool and returning to the island on the Sunday evening. Prices start from £39 return for adults.

MV Arrow will also supplement Ben-my-Chree and Manannan during the TT period and potentially at other times of peak demand to allow extra capacity for passengers.

Arrow, a 7,606-tonne vessel capable of carrying up to 1,000 metres of freight, will remain available to supplement the current fleet, including being called into service in the event of damage or technical problems with Ben-my-Chree.

For example, from June 19 to 21, Arrow will provide freight services {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/ben-my-chree-to-be-out-of-action-while-fin-replaced-1-6539540|while Ben-my-Chree is having a repaired stabilising fin re-fitted.}

It is currently planned that, when not in use, MV Arrow will be docked at an Irish Sea port and able to start operating on the Isle of Man routes at short notice.

The Steam Packet secured the long-term charter of MV Arrow from Seatruck in September last year. The agreement includes an option to buy, should this be necessary.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Our freight services are a lifeline for the Isle of Man and we take this responsibility very seriously.

‘Securing MV Arrow on a long-term charter, which represents a multi-million pound investment by the company, allows us to plan for scheduled maintenance periods, such as Ben-my-Chree’s biennial overhaul, as well as providing an enhanced level of back-up in place should it be needed. This investment demonstrates our commitment to providing the quality bespoke service our freight customers and the Isle of Man need.

‘Having access to MV Arrow will also allow us to continue to offer increased capacity during times of peak demand, such as the TT, and potentially in the future assist with the growth of events like the Festival of Motorcycling.

‘In recent years we have been keenly aware that vessels which are suitable for operation in all weathers and at all states of tide in the confined harbours of Douglas and Heysham are now becoming increasingly scarce, making it difficult to charter vessels for short periods and at short notice.’

He added: ‘We are also very pleased to be investing in interior improvements to Ben-my-Chree which will refresh the passenger areas of the vessel and make the travelling experience even better.’