DoI Should Lead on New Packet Agreement

A new agreement between the Steam Packet and the government should be prepared by the end of the year.

However, a recommendation that the company be run by a statutory board has been rejected.

The Council of Ministers has largely accepted the recommendations of the Select Committee of Tynwald of the regulation of the Steam Packet Company.

In its report the committee, chaired by Jason Moorhouse, recommended that the Department for Enterprise should establish a working group to develop a new framework for sea services.

CoMin said that this should remain the responsibility of the DoI but has accepted that a working group should develop a new sea services framework by the end of 2025.

It said: “The working group should include representatives from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the Treasury, the Department of Infrastructure, the Department for Enterprise, and the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture, and may include other relevant bodies.”

It will be tasked with ensuring that the framework both “provides services that support the Island’s socio-economic needs” and “continues to comply with international standards”.

Board

Ministers have however rejected a recommendation to consider the practicalities of transitioning the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to a Statutory Board.

They said that they see “no benefit in moving to a Statutory Board”, adding: “Whilst there are no obvious deficiencies in the existing governance and oversight by the Treasury.

“Council also recognises that the detailed mechanisms and key documentation would in all likelihood benefit from are fresh and welcomes the Committee’s suggestion that they are reviewed.”

The Chief Minister said: “In the view of Council, the operation of the Company at arm’s length, as it is currently, is a key tenet of the rationale for the acquisition of the company and remains appropriate.

“However, Council also recognises that the detailed mechanisms and key documentation would in all likelihood benefit from a refresh and welcomes the Committee’s suggestion that they are reviewed.”