Isle of Man

TT Visitor: HMS Middleton visited Douglas for fuel, food supplies, and crew rest, of which fewer than 10 of the 50 crew had before been to the Isle of Man. Its captain also commented on its recent role in the Middle East.

Royal Navy Vessel Returns from Middle East With a Visit to Isle of Man TT

4th June 2026 Isle of Man

A captain of a Royal Navy ‘Hunt’-class mine countermeasure vessel, which had visited the Isle of Man this week, told Manx Radio his crew was delighted to witness the TT. During its visit to the Isle of Man, HMS Middleton…

Irish Sea Challenge: ISORA contenders power across a sunlit Irish Sea during offshore competition. This weekend's Isle of Man double-header is the final major test before the Round Ireland Race.

ISORA Fleet Heads To Isle Of Man Before Round Ireland

3rd June 2026 ISORA

After the successful staging of the Inishtearaght Race from Kinsale, attention switches back to the Irish Sea this weekend as ISORA's offshore fleet prepares for a key double-header centred on the Isle of Man. The Liverpool-Douglas and Douglas-Dún Laoghaire races…

The French-flagged Renaissance during an anchorage call off Douglas in May 2025. This season the inaugural caller will be Hamburg, scheduled to arrive next Wednesday (22 April).

Cruise Ship Season for Isle of Man Set to Start

18th April 2026 Isle of Man

This season, Visit Isle of Man hopes to build on its ‘record-breaking' 2025 as the island prepares to welcome 45 cruise ships to its shores. Last year more than 26,000 passengers visited the Isle of Man, calling to Douglas Harbour…

Coastal Commitment – RNLI 911 – Challenge is named at Exmouth after Belinda and James Richardson raised more than £130,000 with a 911-hour coastal drive around the UK and Ireland.

RNLI 911 Challenge Lifeboat Named In Exmouth

27th February 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A new D class inshore lifeboat has been officially named at Exmouth Lifeboat Station in Devon. RNLI 911 – Challenge was unveiled on Saturday, the 21st of February, funded by a £130,000 coastal fundraising drive led by Belinda and James…

The reserve ropax Ben-My-Chree alongside the Manx Government-funded ferry terminal in Liverpool, which opened in 2024.

Dispute Over Liverpool Terminal Escalates As Manx Minister Refuses to Publish Final Cost

12th February 2026 Ferry

The Isle of Man infrastructure minister says legal advice prevents disclosure of the final cost of the Liverpool ferry terminal, as an MHK claims the overall price tag exceeds £100 million. In the Manx Parliament (House of Keys), a row…

A customer consultation with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which plans to replace Manannan, drew more than 2,000 responses received within the first 12 hours. Above the fast craft departing Douglas Harbour, where it operates seasonal services, among them Belfast and Dublin.

Passengers Respond to Isle of Man Steam Packet Consultation to Replace Fast-Craft

6th February 2026 Ferry

Following a customer consultation, the Isle of Man Steam Packet says that respondents want an all-year, all-weather vessel as a priority. The Manx Government-owned ferry company said it received more than 4,500 responses to its consultation on the replacement of…

The Isle of Man Steam Packet’s reserve ropax, Ben-My-Chree, recently refurbished, is to make its debut on the new Larne-Douglas route during the peak season, entering service in July, in addition to increasing frequency and boosting capacity on the route to Dublin that month. Above the company’s passenger fleet at the Manx homeport capital, with the flagship Manxman on the left, the fast ferry Manannan (which is to launch the new route in April), and the Ben-My-Chree.

New Larne-Douglas Link Welcomed With Ben-My-Chree Serving From Peak Season

20th January 2026 Ferry

In the Northern Ireland ferry port of Larne, the mayor of Mid and East Antrim has welcomed the introduction this spring of a new route linking the port and the Isle of Man. With the launch of the Isle of…

Classic Cargo Ship: The diminutive Manx-flagged veteran vessel Silver River (373dwt), which served Mezeron Freight Services since 1986 (now WS Mezeron), had supplied the Isle of Man with its Irish Sea ‘liner’ services linking Belfast-Ramsey (above at shipowners’ homeport) and from there also to Glasson Dock, Lancashire, England. Berthed ahead is its successor, Snaefell River, which made its debut almost a year ago.

Irish Sea Veteran Cargo Ship Leaves Isle of Man for Final Time

20th November 2025 Isle of Man

After almost four decades of Irish Sea cargo-ship service, Mezeron’s Silver River, which carried break-bulk, vehicles, and containers, left its shipowners’ homeport of Ramsey, Isle of Man, for the final time. The coaster was built in 1968 at Oldersum, Germany;…

An odd sight: Ben-my-Chree of the Isle of Man Steam Packet berthed at Goodwick (in the distance, Fishguard), South Wales, from where it served a first charter stint to Stena Line. Also presenting an unconventional scene was a ferry berthed sternwise at the port, now closed on a temporary basis for maintenance. Loaded on the aft open vehicle deck, a sole ‘drop’ freight trailer remained in situ. In the foreground, the rail-connected terminal where services include the historic mainline link to London (Paddington), and at Rosslare, Irish Rail is the port authority with its train connection to Dublin, where the ropax is ‘understood’ to enter service from Holyhead tomorrow.

Manx Ropax Continues Charter Role to Stena Dublin-Holyhead But Relieves 'Roster' of Irish Ferries Vessel

19th November 2025 Stena Line

Ben-my-Chree has ended its first charter stint relief role on Stena Line’s southern Irish Sea route of Rosslare-Fishguard, from where, since this morning, the ropax repositioned to Holyhead, North Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore. As Afloat earlier reported today, the ferry…

The Manx Government-owned Isle of Man Steam Packet is to examine improving its service to Northern Ireland, as the company’s former flagship Ben-my-Chree is set to carry out berthing trials at Larne. The port in Co. Antrim is operated by P&O Ferries and owned by the Dubai-based parent company, DP World. Above: AFLOAT captures the ropax at its homeport of Douglas, from where it operates to Belfast on a seasonal basis and on certain dates in December.

Isle of Man Back-Up Ferry Ben-my-Chree to Undertake Berthing Trial at Larne

24th October 2025 Ferry

The Isle of Man Steam Packet said it is exploring the feasibility of improved ferry services to Ireland on its route from Douglas, according to ManxRadio. Ropax Ben-my-Chree, which is the company’s reserve ferry, will this week undertake a trial sailing…

The Isle of Man takes third place among Conde Nast Traveller readers' list of the best islands in the UK. Above, the 11th-century St. Patrick’s Isle, Peel, built by the Vikings, was also once home to Christian missionaries, warriors, and kings. The impressive fortress dominating the Isle, which was a royal residence, centre of government, and military stronghold, stands on the island’s southwest coastline.

Isle of Man Third Best in 'UK Islands' Category - Condé Nast 2025 Awards

10th October 2025 Isle of Man

This year’s Condé Nast Traveller 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards has named the Isle of Man the third-best island in the UK. In the English Channel, Guernsey took second place, and off Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, as Afloat reported, have…

This year’s cruise season for the Isle of Man showed a 21% increase in visitors; among them Afloat has identified the Crystal Serenity, as seen a month ago at anchorage off Douglas promenade. At this location are statues depicting the Manx-born trio of the Gibb brothers of ‘Bee Gees’ fame, one of the most commercially successful groups in the history of popular music.

Record-Breaking Year for Isle of Man Cruise Passenger Visitors

8th October 2025 Cruise Liners

A record-breaking number of cruise passengers to the Isle of Man visited the island during the 2025 season, the majority to Douglas. According to Visit Isle of Man, an agency of the Manx Government, it reported a 21% increase on…

The high-speed craft ferry Manannan has been in service for nearly 30 years, and since 2006 with the Isle of Man Steam Packet is seen departing Douglas. Among its seasonally-operated routes, is to Dublin which ended service last month.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Plans to Replace Fast Craft Costing £120m

2nd October 2025 Ferry

The ferry operator serving the Isle of Man has committed to spending up to £120m on replacement of a fast-craft vessel within the next five years. The fast-craft ferry Manannan of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which operates…

The Isle of Man Ship Registry becomes the first flag state to join the SafetyTech Accelerator’s Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII). The global programme is developing solutions to monitor and cut methane emissions from ships in line with IMO decarbonisation goals.

Isle of Man Ship Registry First Flag State to Join Methane Abatement Initiative

15th September 2025 Isle of Man

A campaign by the Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to continue to drive decarbonation in maritime by becoming the first flag state to join the SafetyTech Accelerator Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII). The pioneering programme aims to…

The Isle of Man Steam Packet confirms positive traffic figures for the summer period with a wider 9.6 percent increase in passengers travelling to Douglas.

Ferry Operator Confirms Rise in Manx Grand Prix Passenger Numbers

12th September 2025 Ferry

The Isle of Man Steam Packet has carried more than 31,400 ferry passengers during this year's Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix period. According to the Manx government-owned operator, the figure of 31,406 has set a new record for the…

The fast ferry Manannan which serves ‘seasonal’ routes, among them the Dublin-Douglas link, concluded last month. The craft is seen departing the Irish capital, from where the service resumes in May 2026.

Manx Chief Minister Discusses Steam Packet’s Pricing Structure

9th September 2025 Ferry

The chief minister of the Isle of Man says he is determined for the Steam Packet Company to continue to operate ferry services without a subvention. His comment comes ahead of discussions in the Manx Government Conference to be held…