IOMSPC Answers

We’re very proud to be a Manx-based and Manx-owned Company. We’re a topic of conversation as much as the weather (quite often in the same breath) and we know that there are always more questions that people would like to have answered.

We did a quick trawl of social media, and sat down with our Fleet Operations Manager James Royston and Tom Turner, one of the captains on Manxman and Ben-my-Chree, to get some answers from the people at the pointy end. Jim was the Project Manager for Manxman, and Tom was involved as one of the build team out in Ulsan, South Korea.

For info on how the current situation at Heysham Port may affect sailings, please see our post here for more information:

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.                          

Why not sail Manxman to Liverpool if it can’t berth in Heysham?                        

JR: Trials have not yet been carried out for Manxman to operate from Liverpool. Once the trials are successfully completed, we’ll have more flexibility to consider Liverpool as an option in the future. However, it is not possible to transport freight via the Liverpool terminal, due to circumstances outside of our control.  

It’s not even windy

JR: This is given as a statement, not a question!

TT: The short answer is that it’s not just about the current weather, but the forecast as well. We assess the weather for the entire journey, not just the port. The forecast might show conditions beyond what is considered safe according to our risk assessment, which takes into account a variety of factors to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

I’ve looked at a website and 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).

How can, for instance, Manannan sail and 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 sytem.

Manxman was a cancelled cruise ship

JR: Manxman was designed and built specifically for the IOMSPC to a bespoke design, based on the requirements of the Sea Service Agreement and using input from customer surveys. You can see the build blog here:

Manxman is not as precise or controllable as Ben-my-Chree.

TT: For a ship of Manxman’s size – she is a substantially powered and capable vessel in terms of Propulsion / Thrust. She has 3300kW of bow thruster power up forward compared to 1800kW on Ben-my-Chree.  Manxman also has special high lift rudders to aid with manoeuvrability.