‘Manannan’ participates in Manx TT Race

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s latest Incat fast ferry has completed her first Manx TT Race period, ferrying thousands of passengers and their bikes to and from the island during race festival.

During the TT period, the Steam Packet Company carried over 9,900 motorcycles, 4,000 cars/vans and 30,000 passengers, in each direction with its two fast craft and conventional ferry. Allocated to the busy Douglas to Liverpool service, the ‘Manannan’ is the largest diesel-powered high speed craft on the Irish Sea with greater cruising speed and increased vehicle and passenger capacity than the vessel she replaces. The 96-metre wave piercing catamaran was built by Incat in Tasmania, Australia, in 1998 as the ‘Incat 050’. Purchased by the Manx company in May 2008, the vessel sailed from Tasmania bound for Portsmouth, England, in June 2008 to commence an extensive refit project.

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