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The Steam Packet says the latest mishap to befall the fast craft Manannan will keep it out of service until tomorrow (Thursday), and is also calling for more protection for its vessels.
The company says today's sailings were cancelled in advance, so repairs could be carried out to the shaft bearings, and it has now spent over £1 million this year on maintaining the vessel.
It says Manannan has suffered damage and several reliability issues during 2011, caused by wholly avoidable incidents at sea, rather than any lack of maintenance or inherent unreliability.
The Packet says an icreasing problem is fishing pots and marker buoys being sucked up by the vessel.
Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward says: 'The Isle of Man needs protected navigation routes and the cooperation of all those fishing in Manx waters, to help prevent this sort of damage to our vessels and the resulting inconvenience to many thousands of passengers.
'Our fast craft have now suffered damage on nine separate occasions in recent years as a result of fishing gear ingestion in Manx waters.'
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