The new was announced by the IoMSPCo’s managing director Brian Thomson on 23 September during the Isle of Man Government’s annual conference.

The ferry operator’s current fast ferry MANANNAN, built in 1998, has been suffering propulsion issues of late and it is believed that the Douglas-based operator had been considering re-engining the vessel. MANANNAN is currently powered by her original four Caterpillar main engines,

However, the IoMSPCo has now decided to go for a newbuilding and is currently in discussions with a number of yards on the actual size and design of the new fast ferry. MANANNAN can carry 850 passengers and 175 vehicles, but only operates seasonally between Douglas and Liverpool.

What is known so far about the new fast ferry is that it will be required to operate year-round, being designed to fit the existing ramps at the ferry operator’s terminals in Heysham and Liverpool, as well as being capable of deputising for freight services, as and when required.

The IoMSPCo currently operates its own dedicated freight RoRo, the 1,057 lanemetre capacity ARROW.  However, this 1998-built vessel is frequently chartered to other operators and, therefore, unavailable for freight operations by the Douglas-based ferry operator. At present ARROW is on a 12-month charter to DFDS and operates on the service linking Portsmouth with St. Helier, Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

The ferry operator’s managing director Brian Thomson said discussions would take place to make sure the operator secured “the vessel that best suites the island’s need for the future.”

Plans are also in hand to hold a public consultation on the new fast ferry project.

The IoMSPCo said that the cost of building the new fast ferry would be met from the company’s profits and taking on additional debt “at zero cost to the Isle of Man taxpayers.”

Mr Thomson went on to say that the ferry operator would be paying GBP 267 million for replacement vessels over the next 25 years – a figure which includes the company’s new flagship RoPax ferry MANXMAN, which entered service in August 2023, after being delivered by South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.

He went on to say that the new fast ferry would have to “comply with existing and future emissions regulations” which “posed a challenge.” The new ferry would also have to be capable of winter services to both Heysham and Liverpool, whereas MANANNAN currently has a limited operational window.

Mr Thomson said that he also wanted the new fast ferry to be capable of deputising for freight services.

Further investment by the IoMSPCo designed to “drive future growth” included the creation of a new leadership team and additional refurbishment works on the 1998-built RoPax ferry BEN-MY-CHREE, which currently operates as the company’s standby vessel.

Originally, it was thought that the 500 passenger, 200 car capacity BEN-MY-CHREE would have been sold on to another operator following the arrival of the new 949 passenger capacity, 300 car capacity MANXMAN.

© Shippax