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Faulty hydraulic part caused ferry collision

Component's premature failure identified

A faulty hydraulic part was to lame for the Steam Packet fast craft's collision with the linkspan in Douglas last month.

Mannanan hit the linkspan on approach, the vessel not having performed its standard turn in the harbour.

A short explanation of the cause has been released by the company.

Marian Kenny reports: 

The accident, at the height of one of the busiest periods of the year, left a section of the ship's bow damaged.

Steam Packet boss Mark Woodward says the incident resulted from the premature failure of a hydraulic component - which has since been replaced.

The incident on 17 August, put Manannan out of service the following day, leaving large numbers of visiting bikers heading for the Festival of Motorcycling, stranded in Liverpool.

Passengers due to sail on Manannan the morning after the accident were transferred to other services, but backlogs and delays arose at both ports while repairs were carried out and the work approved by ship surveyors.

Manannan's sailings resumed late evening.  

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