Steam Packet Current Ferry Routes
The routes which the Steam Packet Company operates are:
- Douglas - Heysham: All Year-Round Service
- Douglas - Liverpool: March to November
- Douglas - Birkenhead: November to March
- Douglas - Dublin: Easter to September & Christmas
- Douglas - Belfast: Easter to September
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Isle of Man Steam Packet User Agreement
The Steam Packet Company is required to fulfil the terms of a User Agreement negotiated with the IOM Government's Department of Transport. Under the 2004 extension of the Agreement, the following minimum service levels are required:
Inbound freight capacity, 7,800 lane metres per week.
Service to north-west UK ports, 936 return sailings per year.
Summer-period frequency to the Liverpool port range, a daily service from April to the third week in October.
Services to the east coast of Ireland, 63 return sailings per year.
At present the Company’s published schedule exceeds all of the above requirements, hence gaining the sole user rights to the government linkspan in Douglas Harbour, and thus, a monopoly on sea passenger transport to and from the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Today
The company still provides regular services. Both high speed craft and a conventional vessel make up the current fleet. In return for exclusive use of the port areas at Douglas, the Steam Packet Company has made a guarantee of regular services to the Manx Government.
In addition to the regular routes, the Company operates a small number of special day excursions to other destinations or round the Isle of Man during the summer months. Extra sailings are scheduled during times of high demand such as the TT period. The company also operates its own in-house travel agency.
Steam Packet Ownership
In 1996, The Steam Packet Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sea Containers Ltd headed by James Sherwood, who had pioneered the fast craft operation. In July 2003, the Company was sold to Montagu Private Equity for £142 million, previously named HSBC Private Equity Ltd.
In 2005, the company was purchased by major Australian finance firm Macquarie Bank for £225 million, who also bought Wightlink, the Isle of Wight ferry company for £230 million.
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