Hundreds of locals and tourists will be hit by the cancellation of SuperSeaCat services over the next two days.
Repairs are to be carried out to one of the fast craft's main gearboxes, which has broken down.
That means unwelcome disruption at the height of the summer season.
Marian Kenny reports (text of attached audio file):
Company engineers and specialist contractors have been brought in to sort out the gearbox malfunction as swiftly as posible, but two days of sailings will suffer.
Tonight's 6.30 service from Liverpool to the Island and the Isle of Man to Belfast crossing at 9.45 pm are both cancelled.
The Belfast to lsle of Man sailing at 1.15 am on Wednesday and the crossing to Liverpool at 7.30 tomorow morning are also both cancelled.
The Steam Packet says passengers will be transferred to the Ben my Chree to and from Heysham, while Belfast-booked passengers will be transferred to the Dublin sailing on Wednesday.
Once services resume the SuperSeaCat 2 will operate at a reduced speed until repairs are finished.
(Picture: SuperSeaCat2 in Douglas harbour).
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