Sophie Black (EliteVelo Kalas RT) had a successful time at the ZipVit Regional Circuit races at Curborough, in the Midlands, last weekend.
The end result was her first circuit race win of the year.
The Manx Viking Wheeler believes that the wet weather played into her hands as she was stronger into the corners and has a good sprint finish which helped her grab the win.
Sophie wishes to thank the James Berry Fund and Isle of Man Sport Aid for their continued support.
Island space company ManSat has strong potential for the future says the man who has taken over as new chief financial officer.
Ian Sanders replaces Ian Jarritt, who has retired after 14 years working with the company.
ManSat is a Manx registered and Manx owned private limitedheadquartered in Douglas.
It provides specialist regulatory services to international satellite operators.
Mr Sanders, an economist and chartered accountant by training, is an independent consultant to companies in the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) sectors.
Mr Sanders said: ‘ManSat is a great company with strong potential.
‘I believe that it provides an excellent example of how Isle of Man-based businesses can succeed in highly competitive and fast moving international industries.
‘I look forward to working closely with Chris Stott (ManSat chairman and chief executive officer) and the rest of the ManSat Board to help take the company to great heights.’ Mr Stott said: ‘Ian Jarritt has made a very significant contribution in working with ManSat to achieve what many thought was impossible for the island.
‘Fortunately for us, he is not severing all connections with the company as he joins us as a non-executive director of our main board.
‘Ian Jarritt is a hard act to follow, so we are delighted to be able to announce that Ian Sanders has agreed to work with us.
‘His wide international TMT (Telecom,media and technology) experience in areas such as economic regulation, strategy and business planning, financial management and the management of complex services contracts will be invaluable to us as we work to take ManSat to the next stage of its development.
‘We have achieved a lot since Ian Jarritt started working with us and this is just the beginning of what is a very bright future for the company and for the island’s space sector.’
Mr Jarritt said: ‘I am proud to have played a role in what ManSat has achieved over the last 14 years. I think ManSat has great potential for continued profitable growth and I am pleased to be continuing my connection with the company in my new role as non-executive director at a time when so many exciting things are happening in the global and, indeed, the Isle of Man space industries.’
Before becoming an independent consultant, Mr Sanders spent more than 20 years with the professional services firm PwC, and its consulting business PwC Consulting, where he was a TMT strategy consulting partner and was based at various times in the Isle of Man, London, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Beijing, working on consulting projects in more than 20 countries worldwide.
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Will Draper of Tromode broke the 10-mile time trial cycling record for an under-16 youth set by Chris Harrison 26 years ago last week.
Full details in Tuesday’s Examiner.
The boss of the Manx NHS, Mark Charters, has quit as chief executive ‘for personal reasons’ - less than a year after taking up the post.
Mr Charters was appointed to head up the newly merged Department of Health and Social Care in July last year.
In a statement the Civil Service Commission said it ‘regrets to announce’ that Mr Charters ‘has left the position for personal reasons following completion of his primary objectives’.
It added: ‘Interim arrangements are being put in place for the running of the department pending the appointment of a successor. Mr Charters hopes that the island will support the new strategy for Health and Social Care that the department will be consulting on over the coming months.
‘The Civil Service Commission can make no further comment at this stage.’
Mr Charters has been spearheading a new strategy of integrated health care, based on a model pioneered at the Canterbury District Health Board in New Zealand. He and Health Minister Howard Quayle came in for much criticism when they travelled to New Zealand on a fact-finding mission earlier this year.
TT star Guy Martin has been presented with a commemorative glass paperweight to recognise his services to the industrial heritage of the British Isles.
Adrian Beacham and his daughter Lucy made the presentation on behalf of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association and the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgenorth in Shropshire.
The presentation was made during TT week in the paddock area at the back of the Grandstand.
In 2011, Guy helped with the restoration of a Severn Valley steam locomotive as part of a Channel 4 series ‘How Britain Worked’.
At the presentation, Adrian and Lucy gave the TT rider a crystal glass cube engraved with a steam engine bearing the Three Legs and also a bone china mug depicting Guy’s Labrador dog Nigel.
Adrian said: ‘This was in recognition of all the work Guy Martin has done over the past few years preserving our industrial way of life both old and new.’
The students at Sulby Primary School are making a name for themselves with a remarkable run of wins in the One World Centre’s It’s Not Fair! short film competition.
Designed to allow primary children to explore global issues in a four-minute film, the competition attracted entries on a number of topics including fair trade and rainforest destruction
Having enjoyed previous wins with films on general issues around global fairness and inequality, this year Sulby scooped the top prize again with an entry that focussed on water.
Their success was announced at a special award screening held at Ballakermeen Studio Theatre on Monday in front of the other competition finalists, as well as teachers and parents.
Sulby’s film, which was described by the judges as ‘beautiful’, ‘engaging’ and ‘thought-provoking’, followed the story of a drop of water as it travelled through time and around the earth, eventually falling into a stagnant muddy pool in Africa where it was drunk by a young girl with no access to clean fresh water.
While highlighting the effects of dirty water on the young and vulnerable, the film also contained humour, lots of facts and information and suggestions on how water quality and sanitation can be improved for the millions who don’t currently have it. The film was awarded Best Production as well as Best Overall Film.
Other award winners were Anagh Coar (Best Call to Action), who looked at the impact of deforestation and talked about their decision to adopt a rainforest jaguar; Ashley Hill (Best Special Effects) who made good use of green screen to feature on Fairtrade and St John’s (Best Title Sequence) who looked at different types of unfairness in the world, including education, with very imaginative use of sport to make their points.
One World Centre director Rosemary Clarke said: ‘Yet again, we have been amazed at the range of topics covered, the imagination and creativity involved and the genuine enthusiasm the children have shown in responding to the challenge of making a short film.
‘The technical ability displayed by such young people is hugely impressive and their understanding and empathy for the topics they research is very clear.’
Sure has sponsored the It’s Not Fair! film competition each year it has been run Pictured: The winning film-makers from Sulby with, from left, Sarah Jarvis from Sure, Christy DeHaven and Dave Armstrong from Another Dam Productions and Rosemary Clarke from the One World Centre
Dandara Group senior architectural technician Visumbe Zivave has become a fully-qualified architect after successfully completing his Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture.
The Royal Institute of British Architects’ diploma is the final stage of a three-part qualification process to become eligible for registration by the Architects Registration Board, and entitles Visumbe to call himself an architect, a title protected by law.
Visumbe, or V as he is known to colleagues, trained and worked in Zimbabwe and South Africa before moving to the Isle of Man in 2008. He holds a first class Bachelor of Architecture degree and joined Dandara in January 2014.
The RIBA Part 3 qualification is only available to candidates who have successfully finished the RIBA-validated Parts 1 and 2 qualifications, and requires the completion of at least five years’ university study and two years’ practical experience.
Dandara Group managing director Seamus Nugent said: ‘There is a huge degree of commitment required to become a fully-qualified architect, and V has worked with determination and dedication towards achieving this final step.
‘He is now eligible for Chartered membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects and to have the letters R.I.B.A. after his name. This is a worldwide-recognised qualification and a symbol of professional excellence which V has worked hard for and should be very proud of.
‘We look forward to seeing him continue to develop as a professional, with the flair, imagination and skill he is known for, and play an important role in the creation of innovative commercial and residential projects for the Dandara Group.’
V added: ‘I’m delighted to have completed the diploma and to have the honour of calling myself an architect. It has taken many years and a lot of work, and I would like to thank my colleagues at Dandara for their support.’
Tynwald threw out a bid for Tynwald to vote on the separate aspects of the Douglas promenades revamp.
Malew and Santon MHK Graham Cregeen had tabled a Tynwald motion calling the members to vote separately on the carriageway upgrade and the horse tramway relocation. But his motion was defeated following a debate on Tuesday evening.
The Department of Infrastructure has submitted its planning application for the £21.3m promenade refurbishment project. Funding approval is likely to a sought at the October Tynwald.
Mr Cregeen argued Tynwald funding for the new tram line should be conditional on Douglas Council signing up to continue running the horse trams for at least another 20 years.
He believes the horse tram line should be kept in the centre of the road but reduced to a single track.
Original plans to relocate the horse tram tracks on the carriageway side of the Marine Gardens on Loch Promenade were abandoned following opposition from hoteliers and town centre traders concerned at the loss of parking spaces.
Under the revised plans, the realigned horse tram track, a single track with one passing place, will share the walkway with pedestrians, cyclists and children.
One of the controversial aspects of the application is the idea of a ‘shared space’ street where pedestrians and traffic have equal right of way and existing conventional pedestrian crossings are replaced with ‘courtesy crossings’.
There is no comparison with the situation between the Steam Packet and Manx Gas, Chief Minister Allan Bell insisted.
Mr Bell was quizzed in Tynwald by Peter Karran (LibVan, Onchan) over the takeover of Manx Gas’ parent company, International Energy Group, by Bermuda-based Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP.
Mr Karran asked whether Brookfield had given assurances they will ‘not load Manx Gas with excessive debt’.
He asked: ‘Will he refer this back to make sure we don’t end up with a situation like we have with the Steam Packet Company where we end up with a company with massive debts through the sale of a user agreement we give free, so we can protect gas consumers so they are not being charged more than they should be.’
The Steam Packet announced a financial restructuring in 2013 to significantly reduce its unsustainable level of debt dating back to its acquisition by Macquarie in 2005.
Mr Bell said: ‘I was personally not aware of the acquisition of the International Energy Group by Brookfield in 2009 but the OFT who monitor the gas market were aware.
‘There have been no discussions with Brookfield or Manx Gas about debt. I can add that both OFT and Treasury have had access to the accounts of Manx Gas and there are no concerns regarding debt levels.’
He added: ‘I want to make it crystal clear there is absolutely no comparison with the situation at the Steam Packet and Manx Gas. Manx Gas along with Guernsey Gas and Jersey Gas are owned by IEG. Brookfield have taken over IEG. There is no material impact on Manx Gas in any way at all as a result of that.’
He pointed out that Brookfield is ‘not Macquarie, it is not a speculative investor - it is a very substantial $10bn international company with 9,000 employees worldwide and has very material involvement in utilities, transport, energy and communications.’
Mr Bell said that since the agreed profitability of Manx Gas is based on the capital value of assets deployed, the level of debt of the company does not influence profit levels.
One of the highlights of the cricket season takes place on Friday when the Isle of Man plays two Twenty20 matches against the MCC at Tromode.
Last year the Manx won both games and the visitors will be out to reverse those results.
The island squad is: Phil Littlejohns (capt) (Peel and St John’s); Adam Killey, Adam McAuley, Sam Kebbell, Nick Wild, Sam Mills (Cronkbourne); Danny Kniveton (Crosby); Ollie Webster, Chris Hawke, Dan Hawke, Akkie Van Den Berg (Peel and St John’s); Ryan Windell (Valkyres).
The games start at 11am and 2.45pm.
The bar will be open from 4.30pm and there is a barbeque after the end of the second match.
At 6pm an under-nines’ festival takes place on the ground.
This should be an exciting day for island cricket lovers and one not be missed.
l The next round of matches in the T20 Manx Premier League take place at Mullen-e-Cloie on Saturday.
Glashtyns begin the day at the top of the table with two wins from their two previous outings.
It is going to be up to Manannans and Bugganes to halt their progress.
The final fixture of the day could be key when Bugganes play Glashtyns.
Last month this match was won in the final over.
Glashtyns had raced to 100 for 2 with Jaco Jansen (37) and Phil Littlejohns (26) in control. Then the side collapsed with the last eight wickets falling for just 39 runs.
In reply Bugganes were well placed at 74 for 1, but started to fall behind on the run rate.
Pete Lewis made 37 and Bruce Wagstaff hit a punishing 31, but as the last over started the team were 10 runs behind.
A tight six balls from Jansen yielded only five runs and a narrow victory went to Glashtyns.
Bugganes then lost their next match, but again the margin was narrow – only going down by 10 runs.
So there is very little between the three teams and more excellent cricket is forecast for the weekend.
The games go ahead at Mullen-e-Cloie, starting at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
New Top Gear presenter Chris Evans has hinted TT hero Guy Martin is in the running to join the show.
The popular broadcaster has also told how he will be looking to audition ordinary members of the public for the car-madshow.
And perhaps the strongest hint yet appeared yesterday afternoon (Thursday) when a message appeared on the
@guymartinracing Twitter account saying: ‘I’ve got 2 admit I do have an extra job in the offing, driving something pretty trick it was too hard to turn down.’
Since ginger-haired BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Evans was named as former island resident Jeremy Clarkson’s successor, there has been a great deal of speculation about who will join him.
Model Jodie Kidd has been tipped to be a presenter.
And some bookmakers have the Isle of Man TT race ace and popular character Guy Martin as the favourite male candidate to join the hit show.
And on his Radio 2 show yesterday morning (Thursday), Evans did little to dampen the speculation.
And acknowledging how well-loved Guy Martin is, Evans said: ‘The thing about Guy is, does he want to do it?’
Guy has previously appeared on Evans’ breakfast show and when asked earlier this year about speculation linking him to Top Gear, he said: ‘Never say never.’
Guy’s autobiography continues to be in the best-seller’s list more than a year after it first came out.
Meanwhile Chris Evans has also announced he will be looking to audition members of the public to join his new team to host the show.
The presenter says the only criterion is to have a ‘real appetite’ for cars. He told viewers on BBC1’s One Show on Wednesday: ‘Male, female, old, young, it doesn’t matter.
‘The one thing that does matter is you’ve got to have a real appetite for cars, and you’ve got to know something about cars. You can be a mechanic, you can be an amateur racing car driver, you can be a guy who’s a fireman but who’s been building his own Land Rover in his garage, but you’ve got to know about cars.’
Isle of Man and Great Britain international clay target shooter Tim Kneale is currently competing at the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The competition is a new multi-sport event similar to the Olympics which delivers an excellent opportunity to taste an event of similar calibre.
Manx Sports Aid Foundation (MSAF) and UK Sport-funded shooter Kneale, competing alongside team-mate Steve Scott in the men’s double trap, will go up against a strong field which contains five of the top 10 in the world rankings.
Kneale is currently lying ninth in the qualification round on 83 just one behind Scott and three off the leader, Italy’s Antonio Barilla.
To follow the Manxman’s progress in the tournament, visit www.baku2015.com/shooting/event/men-double-trap for live scores.
Local gymnast Tara Donnelly has also been in action at the European Games, representing Ireland in the women’s artistic gymnastics events.
Ellan Vannin began their ConIFA European Football Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over the Romani People in Hungary on Thursday afternoon.
Seamus Sharkey’s header gave the Manx an 11th-minute lead before Irhas equalised for the Romani just shy of the half-hour mark.
Another header, this time from Frank Jones, restored the islanders’ lead, Chris Bass Jr adding a third in the 59th minute when he latched onto Liam Doyle’s long ball.
Romani had a man sent off late on for a second yellow card having halted substitute Josh Kelly’s run on goal.
Chris Bass Sr’s side are back in action today at 2pm (3pm CET) when they face northern Italians Padania. A win would see the Manx into Saturday’s semi-finals as group winners.
Defending champion Richard Gerrard is the pre-race favourite for this weekend’s Manx Telecom Parish Walk, writes John Watterson.
More than 1,400 walkers are expected to be on the start line for the island’s biggest mass participation sports event, which begins at 8am on Saturday from the National Sports Centre in Douglas.
Former winners Jock Waddington, Michael George, Vinny Lynch and Robbie Callister are all in the entry. Lynch and George are undoubtedly top-three threats, although it is a while since Michael completed a long-distance event.
Jock is walking with his wife Teri (with the aim of getting her to the finish) and Robbie with one of his South African friends, Colin Townsend, who went through bowel cancer early last year and is hoping to get under 20 hours. If he does, his co-workers at Standard Bank have offered to double what he raises for a children’s hospice/hospital.
Dave Walker and Richard Wild, who finished second and third respectively in the 2014 race, will doubtless be a serious challenge once again to Gerrard, along with David Mapp. Although Mapp does not compete on a regular basis, he could prove the dark horse.
In addition to 2014 winner Janette Morgan, Karen Chiarello could be one to watch in the women’s race along with former winner Maureen Moffatt.
Others of note include Hannah Hunter, who has previously done well in the End to End, and Suzannah Corkill who should smash last year’s 20hr 09min time for the Parish.
Reigning under-21 champions, Alex Eaton and Danielle Oates, are back for another crack at the shorter race to Peel.
Manx Harriers athlete Alex set a new under-21 record in 2014, covering the 32.5 miles in 5hr 44min 58sec. Danielle won the under-21 women’s race in 7hr 05min 21sec.
Another name to look out for is 75-year-old Edmund Shillabeer, who could become the oldest competitor to complete the full 85-mile Parish Walk route. The accomplished race walker and ultra-endurance events athlete made his Parish Walk debut in 2009 at the age of 69 when he finished 17th.
Edmund, who runs his own veterinary practice in Plymouth, is also raising funds for the Canine Partners charity which trains assistance dogs to help disabled people.
To help their friends and family share in the fun via Facebook, Manx Telecom has introduced a new, free service. A team of volunteer photographers will be taking pictures around the course as usual, but this year everyone who has signed up for the new ‘Pic2Go’ service will have their photos automatically published on their Facebook timeline.
After the event, all competitors will have the opportunity to search for and purchase photos by race number at www.isleofman.in with all profits going to charity.
To ensure safety and avoid traffic congestion, motorists are advised to check the ‘information’ page at www.parishwalk.com for details of road closures and no-stopping zones along the course. This is especially important to support crews.
In order to keep the number of cars on the course to a minimum, walkers are asked to consider whether they really need a support vehicle before Peel as plenty of food and drinks are available from feed stations. Any kit needed can usually be carried in a small backpack.
l Walkers who want to help friends or family to follow their progress can have text messages sent to two mobile numbers when they reach each checkpoint.
To register for this free service provided by Manx Telecom, walkers have to update their entry information at www.parishwalk.com before 8.30pm on Friday.
l Live timing updates will be available for anyone to check online at mt.im/parishwalk which will list all walkers as they reach each checkpoint.
There is no contingency plan yet in place should the UK vote to pull out of the EU, Tynwald was told.
Chief Minister Allan Bell said the government was ‘very alert’ to the situation but at this stage there was very little clarity about what Westminster itself wanted.
He told Tynwald: ‘If the UK withdraws from the European Union there will certainly be implications for the Isle of Man.
‘Considerable work is ongoing to understand what these implications may be. We are also considering the implications of possible changes to the Treaty on the Isle of Man.’
The island’s link with the EU is through protocol 3 in the 1973 Treaty of Rome which permits free movement in manufacturing and agricultural goods.
Speaker Steve Rodan asked what contingencies were being prepared, should the UK vote to withdraw from the EU, to restore such an arrangement similar to protocol 3.
Mr Bell replied: ‘We will have to review our position in terms of a new relationship with Europe. At this stage there are so many options to consider. We do not have a specific alternative proposal - there are so many imponderables.
‘It’s way too early to say what alternative relationship, if any in fact, we may be able to negotiate with the EU.’
He said it would be ‘naive’ to think the island could simply negotiate a new treaty and the EU would be ‘looking for something in return’.
Michael MHK Alfred Cannan said: ‘This referendum has potentially huge implications for the people of the Isle of Man.’
He asked if it was the Chief Minister’s intention to support growing calls for the island to have a full say in any referendum vote.
Mr Bell said he didn’t understand the logic in that as we are not part of the UK or the EU and there was no possibility of our having a direct input in ‘somebody else’s referendum’.
He said his own view was that David Cameron did not want to withdraw and ‘some fudge’ would be put together at the last minute.
After the excitement and crackling atmosphere of the last two weeks we’ve arrived at the annual post TT slump.
The island is quiet and tranquil once again, well almost! There are a few bands still forging ahead this weekend after their recent busy period.
Borderline continue where they left off with their relentless TT schedule by making appearances at The Creek in Peel on Friday and The Railway in Douglas on Saturday.
The band state that their influences range from Rock’n’Roll, Rhythm’n’Blues, Fifties Rockabilly, New Orleans R’n’B, Psychobilly, Country and Western Swing, Sixties Soul, Chicago Blues, Texas Jump, Swamp Blues and Delta Blues. Their musical influences come from the likes of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Robert Cray, Albert King, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Moon Mullican, Little Walter, Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker and Ray Charles. The band’s Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/pages/Borderline/578145575594045
9 Mile Smile are another band that have been notching up the gigs recently and are certainly doing well for it. The band is made up by vocalist Angela Wells, guitarists Graham Smith and Grant Evans, bassist Lewis Thompson and Johnny Wade on drums.
They specialise in covers from the likes of anything from the now ubiquitous Kings Of Leon and Stereophonics to Blondie and Michael Jackson via Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin.
Quite a mix and well worth seeing as what they do, they certainly do well.
The band appear at Jaks Bar in Douglas on Friday night. For more information on the band and any further dates, please visit www.facebook.com/9MileSmile
For anyone who had planned on attending the forthcoming Matt Creer show due to take place at the Centenary Centre in Peel this Saturday, sadly it has been announced that the show will now not be going ahead.
Matt will however still open the show the following Saturday at the same venue as support to Anxo Lorenzo.
Further information on the Centenary Centre website.
There isn’t much that I can say about Davy Knowles that hasn’t already been said many times over.
This time however it’s his turn as he has been writing a travel/tour blog while on his current trek across the States as part of the George Thorogood/Brian Setzer tour and it’s well worth a read. Please visit www.davyknowles.com/blog
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.
Isle of Man-based Transmann has announced that it will now be offering a full range of distribution services to Poland and the Baltic countries, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Services to the four countries began this month. The extension of its international services is being made possible by the distribution company’s membership of Palletways, said to be Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network.
It now means Transmann provides delivery services to 18 European countries, which also include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
exciting times
Geoff Evans, principal at Transmann, said: ‘These new additions to the network are really exciting times for both Palletways and Transmann.
‘This adds to our growing pan-European delivery capability and will open up significant new market opportunities for us and our customers.’
Luis Zubialde, managing director of Palletways UK Network, said: ‘Our expansion into Eastern and Northern Europe is part of our wider strategy to extend our geographical presence and provide even more value to our customers.
‘It will be supported by our pan-European IT platform and central customer service operation in Madrid to ensure we provide the best possible customer experience.’
Palletways comprises 400 depots across Europe of which over 100 are in the UK.
‘The company’s distribution networks are made up of independent transport companies, including Transmann, who share each other’s resources to deliver consignments of palletised freight to market faster and more cost effectively than ever before.
Bus and rail passenger figures from Isle of Man Transport support reports that the 2015 TT fortnight was the busiest for several years.
A total of 217,560 passengers were carried on all three heritage railways and bus vannin services between June 1 and 12 generating an income of £427,000.
Visitors seemed to embrace the new Go smart travel cards with almost 5,000 sold during the fortnight in addition to pre-sales by tour operators and online.
The busiest days were the Friday of Practice Week (June 5) on all services and the Thursday of Race Week (June 11) when the Manx Electric Railway carried 2,000 people to Laxey and hordes of people went on the Steam Railway.
In fact, with more than 281 people boarding the late morning train to Port Erin, every available carriage was used.
Kate Beecroft MHK, Political Member responsible for Public Transport, paid tribute to the staff, many of whom worked long hours during the fortnight.
She said: ‘TT is an extremely testing time for everyone involved in operating public transport and I want to say a huge well done to every member of staff who pulled out all the stops to make it a bumper TT for Isle of Man Transport.
‘We should also acknowledge that Government investment in our transport infrastructure has helped achieve these remarkable
The P&O Express fast craft will not be joining the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company fleet during the 2016 TT.
The vessel has been a regular in Manx waters for Larne trips each TT, but the craft is being returned to her owners by P&O and will not be available for TT charter trips in 2016.
Finding a suitable alternative which is available for such a short lease period is proving very difficult, so the Steam Packet Company has already adjusted its TT schedules for next year to maximise capacity.
Although the loss of P&O Express means there are slightly fewer Irish sailings during TT 2016, Ben-my-Chree and Manannan have already been scheduled to operate additional Belfast sailings to accommodate Irish fans heading to the races.
Adding these extra Irish services for Manannan and Ben-my-Chree means the number of sailings from Heysham and Liverpool is slightly reduced.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Fast craft are expensive to operate and maintain so we are not surprised that P&O has decided to return the craft. Realistically, there simply aren’t many owners who are prepared to make their vessels available for just two or three weeks’ charter, and commit to that a year in advance. The search for vessels is further restricted because of the size constraints necessary for vessels which can operate within the limitations of the harbours we service.
‘We will keep looking for a replacement charter and have already approached several companies. None at present has indicated a willingness to release vessels to us but we will keep trying. As things stand it appears highly unlikely a suitable replacement will be available and our published schedule for TT2016 assumes we will use our existing resources.’
He added: ‘Our vehicle capacity at TT is significantly higher than 20 years ago and Manannan with the mezzanine deck has double the motorcycle capacity of P&O Express, which only carried around 700 of the 14,000 motorcycles transported in 2015.’