Steam Packet engineers 'in dialogue with equipment manufacturers' 

Ben-my-Chree is being prepared to undertake sailings as contingency vessel

The Steam Packet Company has confirmed its engineers are 'in dialogue with the equipment manufacturers to resolve' issues on board Manxman.

It's after smoke was found in a machinery space of the company's flagship vessel this morning.

The issue was identified during the 2.15am sailing and triggered the shoreside emergency response.

As a result, today's 8.45am and 2.15pm sailings to and from Heysham were cancelled.

The company says it hopes to be in a position to undertake testing this afternoon.

In the meantime, the Ben-my-Chree is being prepared to undertake sailings.

A further update is expected at 4pm.

Customers have been 'thanked once again for the patience and understanding'.

UPDATE 4:06PM:

The Steam Packet Company has confirmed the Ben-my-Chree is to undertake the Manxman's scheduled sailing this evening.

Passengers are asked to check in as normal.

UPDATE 5PM: "To minimise disruption during the busy Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT period, and ahead of the August Bank Holiday, both Ben-my-Chree and Manannan will be brought into operation for the services from Heysham.

"Manannan will operate a replacement passenger sailing from Heysham at 3:30am on Wednesday morning.

"This will free Ben-my-Chree to undertake a freight sailing to avoid a backlog building up in Heysham Port at this busy period.

"Ben-my-Chree will then continue to operate the Wednesday daytime Heysham sailings while Manxman awaits spare parts. Service engineers and spare parts are en route to the Isle of Man on an expedited basis.

"A further update on tomorrow’s schedule and the timeline to return Manxman to service will follow."