Ben-my-Chree enters dry dock

The delay was put in place to allow the vessel to maximize inbound freight traffic ahead of the busy Christmas weekend.

It covered its usual 2.15am crossing from Heysham, and will now travel to Cammell Laird to enter dry dock.

The Manannan is in place to cover passenger services and some freight over the weekend until the Ben-my-Chree returns to normality on Monday.

Steam Packet Chief Executive Mark Woodwards said, ‘The later time for the dry-docking will allow us to catch up freight volumes and will not negatively impact passenger services which have already been scheduled to be completed by Manannan.’