The Ben-my-Chree arrived back in Douglas this morning, carrying a freight run from Heysham.
The vessel had been operating on Stena’s Fishguard to Rosslare route since January, with the charter period scheduled to run until early May.
However, Stena Line cancelled two days of sailings between Fishguard and Rosslare, with the Ben heading for Heysham before doing a freight run to Douglas.
Current flagship Manxman was operating on the Larne route overnight after weather disruption over the weekend saw the company change its schedules.
Stena Line’s website shows the Ben is due back on its route tomorrow.
New Irish Routes
The Ben is scheduled to undergo a substantial interior refurbishment before operating routes to Dublin and Larne .
Speaking when the new schedule was announced in November, MD Brian Thomson said: “What I would say though, is this is a case of use it or lose it.
“We cannot, as a company, afford to back an initiative that loses money over the long term” .
The new timetable will see the Ben-my-Chree operating five sailings a week during peak season and three weekly sailings to Larne year-round .