Steam Packet: 'We got it wrong last night'

Company says decision to clear freight from harbour was 'wrong one'

The Steam Packet has apologised saying its decision to clear ‘as much freight as possible’ from Douglas harbour last night was ‘the wrong one’. 

The Manxman was supposed to leave Island at 7.45pm but the departure was delayed till after 9pm. 

The company says it felt it had to load the maximum number of freight trailers on the evening boat in order to clear the freight area. 

That area has been temporarily reduced as a result of ongoing harbour improvement work. 

But this delay and an issue with siltation at Heysham and the timing of the low tide – meant there wasn’t enough water to enter the Lancashire port until 3.30am. 

It meant the vessel didn't dock until 3.50am. 

The Steam Packet says the late arrival of the Manxman was then compounded by another company’s scheduled departure time.

This meant the dockers ‘quite rightly’, the company says, gave preference to the vessel which was on schedule - something which led to a delay to discharge, and subsequent loading times, while the dockers served that vessel. 

The company says it fully understands the ‘frustration’ of passengers, and customers, at the delays and cancellations and shares them. 

It’s described dredging at Heysham as ‘inadequate’ and says this leaves the port ‘not fit for purpose’ and responsible for impacting the ability of the company to deliver lifeline services. 

Managing Director Brian Thomson added: “We’re all very aware of the role the company plays in Manx life and being punctual and reliable is at the core of what we do.

"We know that people have busy lives and need to be able to make plans around our sailings.

"We are sorry that the service has fallen below what we aim for.

"Of course we can’t control every factor that affects our services and sometimes we are forced to make choices about rescheduling services that we’d really rather not make, but that is the reality of working on and around the sea. 

“In situations where there’s a choice between being reliable or punctual we’d always choose reliability and maintaining the Island’s lifeline.

“I would also add that in hindsight the decision to try to clear as much freight as possible from the Port last night was the wrong one. 

“I would like to apologise on behalf of the company to everyone affected. 

“We try to make the best decisions to ensure the best service, not just for passengers but the whole of the communities we serve. 

“We did this with the best of intentions but it didn’t work out for the best yesterday.”