Manxman2000

Condor have sent both the Commodore clipper and condor islander to the islands today, it been quite bad in the western channel. Both vessels are Ben sisters.

Is the 24 knots restriction still in place?

Makes you wonder if sending an ageing aluminium fast craft out into conditions like that is sensible. According to “Windy” the wave height between Douglas and Liverpool was 3.5 mts in places and if it got worse in the Mersey, I think it should have remained tied to the rock.

Whilst the Ben that can only limp along was up to 18 knts on route to Liverpool. What is the truth, I think the steamy are knee deep in bull shit.

And the Rhiannon wind farm, and that’s a big one. Looks like they will protect the routes in from the west. That will send the Belfast bound traffic around the south of the island. Douglas to Liverpool will be like a dogs leg to route around the wind farm. After reading the article, it will never happen.

It’s all smoke and mirrors, the steam packet could have sorted this long ago but they want to sell the Ben. Condor have sorted two out of three. The engines within the Ben are common place in ferries around the world, the engine builder will know of all the remedies available to suit fuel in use. The three north link ships have the same engines. are calmac having problems, many of the ferries run by them are using merlees blackstone engines that are years old. The same engines fitted to many locos on the railways. They can’t be compliant. The MHK’s are being fed shit and are taking it, they need to take independent advice and then confront the packet. They own the packet. Farmers, Doctors and shop keepers are not well qualified to run a local council.

In years gone by, in the days of the Manx Maid and Ben my Chree one of which would be on the Liverpool landing stage until at least 0100 one of the galley crew would use the Steam Packets van and go to Liverpool Fruit and Veg market on Edge Lane to select and load the fresh food for the day. This was taken back to the boat. The next boat in to Liverpool had the frozen goods delivered to the forward cold store via the front opening doors, only used in Liverpool. Once in Douglas the collected goods had to be split for the next boat out. That would be early 70’s.

Don’t think they have done that in the past. The last figures I heard 10 years ago so not relative now are Ben to Heysham return. £5000 in fuel. Manannan. £15000 in MGO (diesel). So go slow and save a fortune.

Don’t think they have ever done that in the past.

Don’t know anything about the Arrow, but it’s freight only and was chartered to Condor a lot. Not needed now. Commodore Clipper 1999 had her scrubbers fitted about four years ago. Commodore Goodwill 1995 had hers about two years ago. I think Condor Islander 2005 was done during the refit in France. CalMac engines are more or less all Merlees Blackstone units in the older ferries so possibly can’t be fitted with scrubbers and will run on MGO so will be exempt.

BMC had a quick dry docking prior to last TT. she is due for the two yearly big one any time now. she has live aboard, just give the crew the cabins. She would be better used on Liverpool and the Irish, costs a lot less than the fast craft, and that is life expired. Condor now have spare tonnage with the Goodwill clipper and islander able to carry freight, the goodwill being freight only. So they now have spare capacity. So now work for the Arrow. I don’t think the Ben will fit any of calmacs routes as the harbours in the western isles are shallow.

Has the Manxman gone tech again, down to 6.5 Kts in the lune deep off Fleetwood. just picking up a pilot.

Manxman broken again, Ben can’t be used, no scrubbers Arrow fast asleep in Larne, Manannan in pieces, It’s good year for the Steam Packet. Even David Dixon could not cause so much damage as the present CEO. They don’t care about the freight customers nor the travellers on foot or with cars. The steam packet house flag needs two fingers stitched on to it. tesco will not be happy

Ring fenced for Manx Care, that’s a joke isn’t it. The government get extra money and swerve the attack by saying it’s ring fenced. They then reduce the actual amount they had planned to give Manx Care by the amount ring fenced and say we did what we said. It’s just a big con to placate the population. “Well the extra money did go into the health service didn’t it”. it just bull shit, nothing more.

A good number go in the opposite direction. Reasons for leaving the Island inc better standard of living, yes, even with the problems the UK has the standard of living is better. Health care, my partner has significant health problems, she is better cared for in Wales than she could be on island. The Welsh government may have some daft ideas but spending is kept reasonably in line with income, no fancy sea terminals, or other grandiose schemes like Iris, incinerator, building a ferry that is too big and costs an arm and two legs, and what ever comes next. The Island is and has been for many years been living beyond its means. When will the money run out. A decent government is needed, but only the people can remedy that.