Navigating Docking at a Different Berth: What Passengers Should Know

Docking a ferry is a highly skilled – and potentially risky – operation. A lot of the time it is actually berthing the vessel safely in the harbour, rather than the crossing, that is the biggest challenge from a technical and safety point of view. 

In Heysham, our usual berth for Manxman, berth 1, is currently out of action due to the recent incident with the Manxman. This means that we must use berth 3 or 2 for the next few weeks. 

In Heysham, the berths are numbered from South to North, our usual berth, 1 is closest to the South Wall and immediately alongside the terminal building.

Using berths 3 and 2, means passengers will receive an altered boarding and disembarkation experience. We are working closely with the port authorities to ensure that we are able to resume normal service at berth 1 as soon as possible, and we appreciate your patience and understanding while we navigate docking at a different berth.

To give us critical insight about the difference between docking at berth 3 or 2 to berth 1 and the experience you can expect, here’s Senior Master Captain Andy Atkinson to tell us more.

What differences are there docking at berths 3 and 2 and compared to 1? 

Andy: There’s a number of differences, with some of the key differences being: 

• No foot passenger gangway – this means foot passengers must board and disembark the vessel via coaches.
• Further away from the terminal – Freight and vehicle passengers need to drive slightly further to board and disembark the vessel. 
• Challenges with passing ropes ashore – The forward lines can only be passed ashore when the ship is stopped. Once they are ashore then the vessel can be moved back into position. If we are too far astern (at the rear) then we need to move the ship forward so that the lines can be passed ashore, which can mean a longer mooring process.
• Shallower berth – Number 3 is approximately 0.8m shallower than berth 1. This means we need to review depths more than usual to ensure there is a safe level of water to dock the vessel. 
• Quay wall proximity – The north quay wall is very close to the vessel at berth 3. Combined with the drying area (area of the port which turns to a beach at low water) to the west of the berth, it means we need to be very precise with the approach. When offshore boats are moored on the North Wall then this distance becomes even smaller. Once alongside, we have approximately 25m from the side of Manxman to the side of the offshore vessel. Although this may sound a lot, when we are trying to manoeuvre it means we cannot approach at an angle or allow the stern to move away from the fenders. 
• Enhanced comms with Mooring Deckhands – When coming back onto the berth we (Captains) stand on the port bridge wing so that we can see the fenders. This means we cannot see the boats on the North Wall and we have to rely on communications from the Mooring Deckhands to ensure we remain a safe distance from them. 
• Prevailing wind direction – The prevailing south westerly wind means it is constantly trying to push the vessel to the north when we come alongside.

Combined, these factors put sailings at an increased risk of delays or disruption as the risk assessments for operating from the alternate berths, particularly number 3, advise greater caution at lower wind speeds than our preferred number 1 berth.

The below is a scale image from Manxman’s electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) showing a recent Manxman track into berth 3 at Heysham. Manxman is the yellow / green colour, with the other ships marked in red:

What does this mean for my travel to/from Heysham? 

Andy: Due to health and safety guidelines, we cannot permit passengers to walk between the terminal and the vessel (and vice versa). Therefore, coaches will transport all foot passengers to and from the terminal. Please listen out for announcements or crew instructions to make the transfer as convenient and safe as possible. There may, unfortunately, be a delay in loading or discharging in order to ensure that passengers can be safely transferred without conflicting with vehicle or freight movements.

If you have a train booked, which could be affected by delays disembarking, please speak to our staff at the information desk onboard or at the check-in desk at the terminal, who will be happy to help with your onward travel. 

For vehicle and freight passengers, the drive to and from the vessel is slightly longer. Our crew and shoreside staff will direct you. 

What are you doing to manage this? 

Andy: We are working closely with the port authorities to ensure that we are able to resume normal service at berth 1 as soon as possible. Our crew and staff are working very hard to ensure the passenger experience is as smooth as possible, with as little disruption as possible. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we navigate docking at a different berth.