Latest news with #BrianThomson
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Generator failure leads to Isle of Man ferry cancellations
The failure of a generator on an Isle of Man ferry has resulted in disruption to passenger Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said a "significant technical issue" had led to Manannan's scheduled crossings to and from Liverpool on Sunday being ferry firm said despite the best efforts of crew and engineers, more time was required to resolve the issue, which meant Monday's journeys had also been had been transferred to Manxman where possible, with coaches providing a transfer between Liverpool and Heysham. The island's back up vessel, the Ben-my-Chree, has been brought into action to for freight services to Heysham to free up passenger capacity on sailings by the a statement, the Steam Packet confirmed the generator failure would need "significant maintenance and testing" before it can return to for the disruption, managing director Brian Thomson said the firm was "working hard to get things back on track as soon as we can".The Steam Packet said an update on Tuesday's sailings to Dublin and Liverpool would be issued later. 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
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: More than 39,000 travel to island by ferry
The number of passengers travelling to the Isle of Man by ferry during the TT period rose 5% on the pervious year, the operator has Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said 39,400 people came to the island on its vessels, the highest number since the centenary of the event in 2007, which attracted 47,000 addition to passenger services by the Manannan and Manxman, the government-owned ferry firm operated its reserve vessel Ben-my-Chree for freight during the director Brian Thomson said it was a "great result" for the firm and the wider island economy. He said the firm had worked "closely with the organisers, teams, marshals and more to help make the event successful" and would continue to do so in year the firm had carried 37,800 passengers during the period, which itself was the highest number since the event's firm previously said a rise in passengers had been enabled by the increased capacity of the Manxman, which stands at 948 passenger, which was 300 more than the previous flagship vessel the Ben-my-Chree could firm's schedule for the event, which this year has ran from 31 May to 7 June, continues until 12 June to return visitors home. 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
02-06-2025
- 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.
