The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is being forced to reschedule a number of sailings next week due to berth depth issues within Douglas Port coinciding with low tides.
The changes run from Monday, May 6 to Saturday, May 11, and only affect Heysham sailings using the King Edward VIII linkspan (berth 5).
The low tides at Douglas next week coincide with scheduled arrival and departure times. Ordinarily this would not pose an operational issue.
Sea Services Agreement
However, the most recent Notice to Mariners confirmed a berth depth of 5 meters under Admiralty Chart Datum against a Sea Services Agreement obligation of 6.5m.
Schedule 11.3 of the Sea Services Agreement read:
To maintain the navigational approach channel to both Linkspans each with associated manoeuvring area and each of six (6) metre depth below Admiralty Chart Datum and to maintain a berth of five (5) metres depth in front of Berth 1 Linkspan and to maintain a berth of six and a half (6.5) metres depth in front of Berth 5 Linkspan The Department will use its best endeavours to ensure that the depth in front of Berth 1 is increased to six and a half (6.5) if reasonable required by the Company and upon reasonable notice. The Department shall use its best endeavours to ensure the approach channel is clear of fishing gear obstructions.
For safety reasons all vessels must maintain a certain amount of water below keel while manoeuvring.
The combination of tidal conditions and berth depth mean this will not be possible at certain times next week, forcing the Company to make changes to the sailing schedule for safety reasons.
Affected sailings
These changes will affect both Manxman and Ben-my-Chree in the same way.
Ben-my-Chree is operating Tuesday’s daytime return sailing to and from Heysham due to planned maintenance on safety equipment aboard Manxman.
It will also now be drafted in to operate additional freight sailings on Wednesday and Thursday in order to ensure the changes to schedule don’t affect freight supplies.
All affected passengers will be contacted by the Company’s reservations team. The Company has attempted to keep all changes as minimal as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers.
Customers are reminded that it is important to provide a mobile number and/or email address when making their booking in order to be kept informed of any changes to check-in or sailing times.
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