After Manxman’s suitability to serve the island was questioned again by islanders after some cancelled sailings this week, the Steam Packet has responded to some of the claims made.
The company has had fleet operations manager James Royston and Tom Turner, one of the captains on Manxman and Ben-my-Chree, to respond and “get some answers from the people at the pointy end”.
Here’s some highlights from the company’s blog post:
Manxman’s been cancelled, why not send Ben-my-Chree?
JR: The maximum wind speed, per the risk assessments, for Ben-my-Chree to berth in Heysham is very similar to Manxman’s. Therefore, Ben-my-Chree couldn’t sail if Manxman wouldn’t have been able to either.
It’s only 20-25 knots of wind at Heysham. Why was the sailing cancelled?
JR: We have access to a wide range of weather data, much of it is not publicly accessible. There are many weather sources available, and forecasts can vary. We use several of these to make the best possible decision, prioritising safety. While some might show lower winds, others indicate conditions that might pose a risk. We never take cancellations lightly, and we always aim to operate whenever it’s safe to do so.
TT: In the Isle of Man – particularly in Douglas, we are largely sheltered when the wind comes from the North West, however Heysham’s landscape leaves little shelter for the vessel. Our Masters take their local knowledge of the ports and apply it. Looking at a forecast can be helpful, but local factors often come into play. So for example 30 knots from the North West in Heysham would have a larger effect on the vessel than if it was 30 knots from the South West in Heysham – as we receive shelter from the Nuclear Power station, as an example.
Unlike the aviation industry, ships don’t have the luxury of assessing a ‘stable’ approach, then invoking a ‘go around’ if an unstable approach is determined. Hence the manoeuvre is planned with a factor of contingency, a margin which ensures the vessel can safely berth with a sudden increase of wind (i.e. gusts / windshear).
Manannan sailed but not Manxman?
JR: The wind conditions in Heysham can be very different to those in Liverpool. Also due to the topography of the land and buildings around the ports, they are affected by winds of a different direction.
Manxman is too big for Heysham
JR: Manxman’s dimensions are based more on Douglas than Heysham, as Douglas is a smaller port. Manxman is 133m long but other vessels using Heysham are up to 147m long. It’s draught is pretty much the same as Ben-my-Chree’s and can be altered in port through the use of ballast tanks and the in-built stability system.
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