monasqueen Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It's about time the Packet woke up to the fact that fast craft cannot go out in the sort of weather we often get in the Spring and Autumn shoulder seasons, and got us a proper ferry that CAN go out in a gale. Remember, that same fast craft is supposed to be giving us a full passenger service while Ben gets her face-lift at the beginning of April - no back-up at all then...... What a farce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsbot Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Several ferry services to and from the Isle of Man are cancelled due to the forecasted bad weather. Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...man/7305778.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
When Skies Are Grey Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 LATEST FROM IOMSPCo WEB SITE Liverpool: • Thursday, March 20th – 15.00 Isle of Man to Liverpool – anticipated to sail on schedule but could be delayed arrival • Thursday, March 20th – 19.00 Liverpool to Isle of Man – anticipated to sail but could be delayed. • Thursday, March 20th – 22.30 Isle of Man to Liverpool – cancelled due to forecast adverse weather. Alternative sailings being offered. For those passengers transferred to the 19.45 sailing to Heysham, a coach will leave Heysham at approximately midnight to take passengers to Liverpool. Estimated coach journey time is 90 minutes • Friday, March 21st – 02.00 Liverpool to Isle of Man – cancelled due to forecast adverse weather. Alternative sailings being offered. For those passengers transferred to the 02.15 sailing from Heysham, a coach will leave Liverpool at 23:30 (Thursday) • Friday, March 21st – 07.30 Isle of Man to Liverpool – anticipated to sail but could be a delayed departure • Friday, March 21st – 11.15 Liverpool to Isle of Man – anticipated to sail but could be delayed. • Saturday, March 22nd - It is anticipated that all sailings will take place but may be subject to delays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triskelion Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's about time the Packet woke up to the fact that fast craft cannot go out in the sort of weather we often get in the Spring and Autumn shoulder seasons, and got us a proper ferry that CAN go out in a gale. Remember, that same fast craft is supposed to be giving us a full passenger service while Ben gets her face-lift at the beginning of April - no back-up at all then...... What a farce. There's a big difference though between a ferry that can go out in a gale and one that people will actually travel on during one. It can be bad enough as it is on the Ben, I can only imagine that that a passenger ferry (with an appropriate capacity) would make such trips worse than death. I seriously doubt there are any ferries in the World suitable for serving the Isle of Man that can maintain an acceptable level of passenger comfort in high winds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Bring back the Lady of Mann! Admittedly it wasn't a very comfortable place to be in high seas, but it damn near always sailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxman8180 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Now, even the Heysham sailings are affected. Diverting to Twelve Quays tonight. Ben to Liverpool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsbot Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Two ferry services between the Isle of Man and Lancashire are diverted to Merseyside in bad weather. Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...man/7307519.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monasqueen Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Viking went to Liverpool this afternoon. Will she come back? Gale Warning for IOM Looks like someone's playing musical ships Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's about time the Packet woke up to the fact that fast craft cannot go out in the sort of weather we often get in the Spring and Autumn shoulder seasons, and got us a proper ferry that CAN go out in a gale. Remember, that same fast craft is supposed to be giving us a full passenger service while Ben gets her face-lift at the beginning of April - no back-up at all then...... What a farce. Isn't a requirement to run fast craft part of their agreement with IOM govt ? Or am I wrong about that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monasqueen Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 There's a big difference though between a ferry that can go out in a gale and one that people will actually travel on during one. I seriously doubt there are any ferries in the World suitable for serving the Isle of Man that can maintain an acceptable level of passenger comfort in high winds. Perhaps it's time for a poll - would you rather be booked to go to Liverpool on a fast craft that is scheduled for 2.5 hours, but may not go because of the weather, or - would you rather be booked on a fast conventional ship that is scheduled for 3.5 hours, but will sail most of the time? Some people have to travel, and may have appointments or onward travel arrangements that are time sensitive. Yes, a lot of people get seasick, and there's been a lot of that on Viking recently!!! The last King Orry was an excellent sea boat in weather up to force 9 - not as fast as everyone would have wished, but very comfortable, and dependable (and she had a side door for the Liverpool stage!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monasqueen Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Isn't a requirement to run fast craft part of their agreement with IOM govt ? Or am I wrong about that ? That is a requirement for the summer months, as part of the "User Agreement". The definition of "fast craft" is a little fluid, though, and can be construed as anything over somewhere in the region of 23 knots. It appears that the "fast craft" does not necessarily have to be a seacat or superseacat type vessel to satisfy that requirement. During the summer season, the aluminium type fast craft are fine, and provide a sort of niche service - but they are best suited to areas where the weather is more dependable. They are expensive to run, and as we have seen are prone to technical problems; also - as there is little scope for getting charters for them, they need to be laid up in the winter. A compromise fast ferry might be the cheaper and more dependable option long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueberrypocket548 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Which was the boat that had the cinema downstairs, that was my favourite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Which was the boat that had the cinema downstairs, that was my favourite! The King Orry had a screen in it, it also had a proper childrens' play area, a proper bar area, proper restaurant, the works. You could even go for a meaningful walk around the King Orry. The Seacat is a horrible atrocity in comparison, as is the Ben, although at least the Ben can still sail if someone in Onchan sneezes a couple of times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Don't they look pretty, tied up in the harbour this morning Looks a bit choppy out there, but not too bad - although you never know how it's further out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monasqueen Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Don't they look pretty, tied up in the harbour this morning Nice photos. The last one is Mersey Viking, which seems to have become distressed during its Belfast-Liverpool sailing last night, and spent a few hours wandering up and down our shores. Yes, yet another Viking! Confusing, what? Wonder how Ben is getting on with its full load this morning.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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