Ferry passengers get coach pick-up at port

Ashlea Tracey
BBC News, Isle of Man
BBC The bow of the Manxman ferry moored in Douglas Harbour. It is a white vessel with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's logo on the side, which features a white three-legs-of-Man symbol in a red circle with a black band around it featuring the company's name in white lettering.BBC
Maintenance on a linkspan by the Peel Ports Group will be carried out for two weeks

Passengers disembarking from Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferries in Lancashire have been warned of changes over the upcoming fortnight as they will be picked up by coach to take them to the terminal.

Planned maintenance work to an adjustable ramp at the port will see foot passengers transported to and from the Heysham Port terminal.

The Manx ferry firm confirmed the Peel Ports Group, the UK's second largest port operator, was undertaking the maintenance on its number 1 linkspan.

"We have been informed that this work will only take two weeks," it added.

The BBC has contacted Peel Ports for a comment.

The change comes after the linkspan was damaged when the Manxman vessel entered the Heysham facility during stormy conditions in August 2024.

It returned to use in April following repairs.

During that period, foot passengers also has to board coaches to travel between the second berth at the port and the terminal.

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