Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to have a new ferry

Photo: Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

The shipping line has signed a contract with the South Korean Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for the delivery of the new vessel, works on which are to commence in mid-2021.

Once operational in spring 2023, the newbuild will replace Ben-my-Chree across the Douglas-Isle of Man service. The older ferry will henceforth serve as a backup.

"The final specification and build programme is still in development but it is expected the new vessel will be slightly larger than the [125.2 m-long and 23.4 m-wide] Ben-my-Chree in most respects but with considerably more passenger space. It is also intended to be more environmentally efficient and manoeuvrable in poor conditions," Mark Woodward, Chief Executive, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said.