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Couldn't give them the exclusive use of Douglas harbour, as there are other cargo operations such as LPG, Oil Products and bulk cargo such as road salt that use the harbour. You would not want to stop them.

Exactly. They are entitled to do it under the user agreement for the first time this year. Previously, it was inflation minus a small discount. Nevertheless, it's a bizarre response to price competition.

I agree Andy730. My understanding is that Graylaw never moved all Tesco traffic from the Packet to Mezeron, and they certainly never did so for Shoprite, as all those prominently displayed apologies from the Steam Packet attested. When the Mezeron ships are cancelled, Graylaw attempt to book onto the Ben using containers on trailers. In fact, last week, a considerable backlog of the empty trailer units that had arrived on the Ben had to be taken back by the Kalana, which then docked at Birkenhead as there are no facilities to handle such trailers at Seaforth container terminal, where the Mezeron ships usually dock. Considering the fact that Mezeron's ships are a quarter the gross tonnage of the Ben, and the fact that they still require pilots whereas the Steam Packet's masters hold exemption certificates, I think Mezeron are doing an excellent job.

What is your source for that? There are refrigerated containers on Kurkse & Kalana almost every day. They are the white Stobart containers with the fridges on the end!

sounds like the same as this year but they used 2 fastcraft to cover it No, it's quite different. If you look at last July's timetable, there was a morning departure scheduled to Liverpool almost every day in July. Look at 2011, and there are 15 days in July when there is no morning departure scheduled to Liverpool. Of course, Manannan & Snaefell both went sick mid-season, which did make the real world a bit different from the timetable.

Exactly... If the Steam Racket is struggling with what they are doing right now, why don't they drop the service to one sailing a day, i.e. sails out at 08:45, and arrives back here at 18:00. There would be a considerable fuel saving to be had. If i saw right this morning, the Ben sailed from Douglas with nothing on the top deck... Could all be inside i guess... Next summer's timetable appears to show a reduction to two vessels, with Manannan covering both Irish and Liverpool crossings. On days when an Irish crossing is scheduled, there is only one return trip to Liverpool.