Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

8 6 INTERV IEW Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Mark Woodward tells Justin Merrigan about how the world’s oldest passenger shipping company is responding in remarkable times A remarkable anniversary T he Isle of Man Steam Packet Company celebrated its 190th anniversary in 2020, making it the world’s oldest continually operating passenger shipping company. The UK operator’s first vessel was a wooden paddle steamer named Mona’s Isle. Today, the island is served by a 96-metre fast craft built by Incat and a conventional ro-pax vessel operating regular services between the Isle of Man, Heysham and Liverpool and seasonal services between the Isle of Man, Belfast and Dublin. In its 190 years, the company has weathered many challenges, including two world wars. The great challenge of today is, of course, Covid-19 and it is one that Steam Packet has faced with a commitment to maintaining the lifeline service so vital to the survival of the community it serves. “From that very first ship to the current conventional ferry, Ben-my-Chree, or our fast craft, Manannan, Steam Packet’s vessels have always provided a sense of pride and security for the people of the Isle of Man,” says Mark Woodward, the company’s chief executive. “We are in the fortunate position of being owned by the Isle of Man government. That meant that from an early stage in the pandemic the government asked us to continue to provide a regular daily passenger and freight link to our main UK port. Other services to the UK and to Ireland were cancelled as the borders were closed between the Isle of Man and the UK. “Because of the need to protect the vital freight lifeline, it was decided to operate Ben-my-Chree as a pure freighter, sailing her overnight each night of the week. The passenger service was provided by one roundtrip each day. While freight revenue fell significantly, passenger revenue all but disappeared.” The easing of restrictions brought a return to limited passenger service “Steam Packet ’s vessels have always provided a sense of pride and security for the people of the Isle of Man”