Latest news with #BrianThomson
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Isle of Man ferry sailings brought forward due to gales
A number of ferry sailings have been brought forward ahead of forecasted gale force winds Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said sailings between Douglas and Liverpool and Lancashire had been Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning from 21:00 until 04:00 BST with wind speeds forecasted to go up to 55mph (88.5km/h).Ferry firm managing director Brian Thomson said with thousands of TT fans due to travel, the firm could not "take the risk" of potential cancellations, which would have "serious knock on effects". He said while the firm appreciated leaving early was "the last thing" TT visitors would want to do, the changes would make sure as many people as possible "get to where they need to go", he added. The changes saw the Manannan's Monday afternoon crossing to Liverpool pulled forward to 05:00 BST, with the 18:15 return to Douglas moved to 09: fast craft Manannan's planned 22:45 journey to Liverpool is now set to leave at 13:45, with Tuesday's 02:45 overnight return brought forward to 17:45 on incoming weather conditions also led to the Manxman's 08:45 sailing on Monday departing 30 minutes early, with the 14:15 return now scheduled for 13:00. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT 2025: Ferry passenger numbers up as bike bookings drop
Passenger numbers on Steam Packet ferry sailings for this year's TT are up on last year but the number of motorbike bookings have fallen, the company's chief executive has said. Brian Thomson said 2025 bookings were about 4.5% up from 2024, when more than 37,800 passengers booked to travel to the island during the can arrive on the island via flights to the Isle of Man Airport or on ferries from Lancashire, Liverpool, Dublin and the numbers of bike bookings were down, Mr Thomson said he believed "more people are bringing their bikes in vans and on trailers", noting those vehicle bookings had risen. About 40,000 people were expected to arrive by boat throughout the TT fortnight, which runs from 26 May until 7 the final figure surpasses the 2024 total, it would become the third year in a row that figures surpass a previous high recorded in 2007, when 47,000 visited. While the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, the firm has since "seen increased passenger numbers every year", Mr Thomson said, adding that the Manxman had enabled that with its increased is the second year the vessel has been operational for the event, with an extra 400 passenger spaces available than its predecessor the Ben my Chree, which is currently running freight Thomson said: "The pressure on freight is huge because everything that's coming for TT, all the equipment, the fairground, the TT village, all of that's come on the boat, and keeping the island supplied."Staffing is increased over the two weeks and extra sailings are fitted into the daily schedule, Mr Thomson explained. At the Isle of Man Airport passenger numbers have remained level at about 60,000 over the two-week period. Interim airport director Geoff Pugh said that figure, while consistent with last year's numbers, is about 19% lower than pre-pandemic levels in said: "We're still some way off the numbers back in 2019, but that's the same throughout the year as well, not just the TT."Two scanners are being replaced in the security area, upgrading them to meet standards set by the UK's Department for Transport. While one machine has now been upgraded, work has been paused during the TT fortnight with the second machine until after racing ends. Also, after the event has finished, new flooring will be fitted, walls painted and new seating installed in the departure lounge as part of ongoing refurbishment works. Mr Pugh said they were trying to make the airport "a welcoming place" and a motorsport display had been placed outside the departure lounge for the races."People will come through the airport and get their first taste of the motorsport vibe," he said. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man ferry tickets go cashless in crime crackdown at ports
People will no longer be able to buy a Manx ferry ticket with cash in a bid to "deter illicit activity".Cash payments have been "exploited by criminal gangs" trying to traffic drugs and cash between the Isle of Man and the UK, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said. The new rules effect ticket sales in Douglas, Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast, and Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) said the move to cashless at ports from 27 March was "to enhance safety and security". 'Progressive step' The DHA said the police force had been aware of gangs exploiting cash payments for tickets "for some time". However, change will still be accepted on board Manx Managing Director Brian Thomson said the move reflected "the way our customers now prefer to pay and aligns with wider industry trends".Going cashless would "speed up transaction times, enhance security, and provide a more seamless booking experience", he company said 1% of its ticket sales were made using cash each year, and the move was a "practical and progressive step".It added that any passengers that did not have access to banking would not be "penalised" and it urged people in that position to contact the Steam Packet at least seven days before the travel time to organise "alternative payment methods". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Freight vessel contract agreed for Jersey and Portsmouth
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) has secured a long-term charter for one of its freight vessels which will sail predominantly between Jersey and vessel, Arrow, will operate for 12 months with DFDS, the firm that operates Jersey's ferry services between the island, UK and France. DFDS and Jersey's government signed a contract in December with the contract set to start from 28 March. IOMSPC managing director Brian Thomson said: "We're pleased to have secured a long term charter for Arrow with a renowned international operator such as DFDS." He added: "This gives us security while the future fleet strategy is agreed with our stakeholders."Arrow was purchased by IOMSPC in September 2022 as a back-up freight vessel to the Ben-my-Chree, the company's main vessel at the time, for about £8 million. But in 2023, the company purchased a £78m vessel known as Manxman, IOMSPC's first new passenger and freight ferry since signalled the end for the Ben-my-Chree as the island's main ferry which had now been retained for back-up passenger and freight services.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man's MV Arrow charted to Channel Islands for a year
Manx back-up freight vessel MV Arrow will operate a year-long charter in the Channel Islands, the government-owned ferry firm has of Man Steam Packet Company said the agreement would come into force on 24 March, after the return of the Ben-my-Chree from dry Steam Packet said the freight vessel would undergo port trials and pilotage training before entering service, when it was expected to operate on the Jersey to Portsmouth BBC has approached Danish ferry operator DFDS, who the contract has been signed with, for a comment. Currently based in Douglas, the MV Arrow can carry 66 14m (46ft) trailers and accommodate 12 was bought by the Steam Packet for about £8m in 2022 as a back-up freight vessel for the island's then flagship ferry, the it has remained an option for the firm since the arrival of the Manxman in July 2023, under the company's sea services agreement with the Manx government the former flagship ferry must be retained for back-up passenger and freight services. 'Future fleet strategy' Jersey's government signed a contract with DFDS to operate ferry services in the Channel Islands in March 28 the Danish firm is set to take over the contract from previous provider Condor Ferries, which had also used the MV Arrow to increase freight will travel to Teeside for its own dry-docking before its charter with DFDS following the return of the Ben-my-Chree to Manx waters next Packet managing director Brian Thomson said the year-long charter would take place while the firm "future fleet strategy" was agree, he said.A committee of Manx politicians recently recommended a new sea services framework should be developed for the Isle of Man by the end of 2025. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
