Steam Packet bosses are trying to find a replacement vessel following the withdrawal by P&O of a fast craft for next year's TT festival.

Chief executive Mark Woodward says an adjustment has already been made to TT schedules for next year to maximise capacity. He said the P&O Express vessel has been a regular in Manx waters for Larne trips each TT but was being returned to her owners, meaning there will be fewer Irish sailings.

Mr Woodward said: 'Fast craft are expensive to operate and maintain so we are not surprised that P&O has decided to return the craft. Realistically, there simply aren’t many owners who are prepared to make their vessels available for just two or three weeks charter, and commit to that a year in advance. The search for vessels is further restricted because of the size constraints necessary for vessels which can operate within the limitations of the harbours we service.

'We will keep looking for a replacement charter and have already approached several companies. None at present has indicated a willingness to release vessels to us but we will keep trying. As things stand it appears highly unlikely a suitable replacement will be available and our published schedule for TT2016 assumes we will use our existing resources.’

The Ben-my-Chree and the Manannan will be operating extra Belfast sailings to accommodate Irish TT fans but this means the number of sailings from Heysham and Liverpool will be slightly reduced.

Mr Woodward added: 'Our vehicle capacity at TT is significantly higher than 20 years ago and Manannan with the mezzanine deck has double the motorcycle capacity of P&O Express, which only carried around 700 of the 14,000 motorcycles transported in 2015.'


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