Sea Services Agreement progress stalled by Liverpool Ferry Terminal contract negotiations

Infrastructure Minister admits it probably won't be implemented until 2027

Stalls in negotiations over the lease of the Liverpool Ferry Terminal are said to have been slowing down progress on the Sea Services Agreement.

The infrastructure minister's been quizzed about it in the House of Keys.

The document is an agreement with the Steam Packet Company to secure the 'lifeline' ferry services.

In April 2025, Tynwald agreed that the Department of Infrastructure should have returned the completed framework to the court by the end of that year, which hasn't yet happened.

There was also confusion among members about why the two things were linked.

Tim Crookall gave this explanation:

The Liverpool Ferry Terminal has been in operation since June 2024.