With strong winds forecast for Monday afternoon and evening, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has revised its schedules to minimise disruption to passengers.

The Island’s Met Office has predicted strong southerly winds increasing to gale or severe gale force by this evening and with gusts of around 60mph likely.

Today’s 14:15 Ben-my-Chree sailing from Heysham will depart as scheduled, but might be delayed arriving in Douglas. Manannan’s Douglas to Liverpool sailing scheduled for 15:00 will now leave at the earlier time of 14:45 and passengers are asked to check-in no later than 14:25.

Ben-my-Chree’s Douglas to Heysham service, scheduled for 19.45, and Manannan’s sailing from Liverpool to Douglas, scheduled for 20:30, may be delayed due to the adverse weather, but passengers are asked to check-in as normal.

Tomorrow’s 02:15 Ben-my-Chree sailing from Heysham to Douglas is also subject to disruption, but passengers are advised to check-in as normal.

The rest of Tuesday’s sailings are currently expected to depart as scheduled.

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We have revised our schedules to take into account the forecast adverse weather, but also to try and minimise the disruption to passengers, including the many hundreds heading to the Isle of Man for the TT.

‘While some sailings are subject to changes and delays, we are not currently anticipating any services being cancelled.’

Updates are available from www.steam-packet.com/latestsailings.