Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Manannan

On the evening of April 19, 2026, the 'Manannan' ferry encountered engine issues during her return journey from Liverpool to Douglas. Following swift emergency repairs, the vessel resumed its service, albeit at a reduced speed to ensure the safety of all passengers on board.

On the evening of October 26, the 'Manannan' departed from Liverpool at 7:15 PM, embarking on its last voyage of the year to Douglas. Unfortunately, the journey took a turbulent turn as the vessel encountered severe weather conditions, reaching wind speeds of force 7 to 8 and wave heights peaking at 2.7 meters halfway across the Mersey. During the crossing, the crew detected smoke emanating from one of the main engines. Adhering to safety protocols, the engine was immediately shut down, triggering a 'Working Party Red' alert to gather the crew for a response. A rapid investigation was launched, and after assessing the situation, the crew was temporarily stood down as a precautionary measure. Despite the challenges, the dedicated crew assisted passengers, addressing the needs of those feeling unwell while managing their own discomfort. The ferry eventually arrived at Douglas at 2:00 AM GMT on October 27, approximately four hours behind schedule. For more insights and images from this eventful crossing, visit: https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-packet-praise-passengers-and-crew-following-significantly-rougher-than-normal-crossing/ and https://gef.im/news/travel/watch-cars-damaged-and-sick-bags-flying-on-horrific-manannan-sailing-55201/?fbclid=Iwb21leANsVbRjbGNrA2xVs2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEejmY5f8YxjA6kMjnzOmXA4nkitkG543lepSAaXhypSvQQE19nacMNv-b2mWQ_aem_7250f1LhpfrKKUL-BT8JTw.

On the morning of August 7, 2023, the Isle of Man's ferry 'Manannan' encountered a significant setback shortly after departing for Liverpool. Just one hour into its journey, the vessel experienced a control fault affecting one of its generators, prompting a necessary return to Douglas. Given the circumstances, the ferry was deemed unsafe to proceed to Liverpool. Passengers onboard were accommodated on alternate 'Manxman' sailings, contingent on availability, while the vessel underwent repairs by dedicated engineers and workshop personnel. Unfortunately, all sailings for the remainder of the day were canceled. To assist foot passengers arriving at the Manx ferry terminal in Liverpool, arrangements were made for free coach transport to Heysham for the rescheduled sailing on August 8 at 02:15 a.m. After ensuring all technical issues were resolved, the 'Manannan' was cleared for departure once again on the morning of August 8, resuming its intended route to Liverpool. It's worth noting that this was not the first interruption for the vessel; scheduled trips on July 27 and 28 were previously canceled due to an earlier generator malfunction that required specialist engineers to be dispatched to the Isle of Man.

On July 29, the 'Manannan' ferry service has successfully resumed operations following a two-day suspension caused by a generator malfunction. Specialist engineers were dispatched to the Isle of Man on July 28 to address the technical issue, which affected ferry services overnight. The ferry commenced its journeys between Douglas and Dublin shortly before 7:00 a.m. BST. Although sailings to Liverpool were also set to restart, the crossing and its evening return have experienced a delay of one hour. Passengers can now expect the ferry to depart from Douglas to Liverpool at 4:00 p.m., with its return trip slated for 8:15 p.m.

On the evening of July 26, 2025, the ferry 'Mannanan' encountered a generator malfunction that led to the abrupt cancellation of its scheduled sailings between Liverpool and Douglas (Isle of Man) for July 27 and 28. The generator failure necessitated extensive maintenance and testing before the vessel could return to service, forcing it to remain docked in Douglas for repairs. Engineers and the workshop team began a major operation to replace one of the faulty generator sets with a spare unit kept onshore, a task that began on Sunday and is set for completion today. In addition to the generator replacement, ongoing fitting and commissioning work is also being performed. To accelerate the repair process, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) has arranged for specialist electrical engineers to fly in this afternoon to conduct further diagnostics and aid in resolving the issues. Concurrently, the electrical engineering team is seizing this opportunity to address persisting problems with another generator set on the vessel, enhancing the likelihood of restoring sufficient generator capacity swiftly. In the meantime, passengers impacted by the cancellations have been accommodated on the company's ferry 'Manxman' whenever feasible. Coaches have also been arranged to transport foot passengers between Liverpool and Heysham, while the backup ropax ferry 'Ben-my-Chree' is engaged in overnight freight activities to alleviate capacity constraints.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is actively working to restore full operational capabilities to the 'Manannan' ferry after a mechanical issue was detected on April 5, 2025. This incident occurred shortly after the vessel had resumed its routine service, connecting Liverpool, Belfast, and Dublin, following its annual winter overhaul. During the crossing on April 5, an anomaly in the control system of one of the ferry's four main engines prompted officials to shut down the affected engine as a precaution. In response, the dedicated crew and engineering team have been collaborating with representatives from the control system’s manufacturer to conduct around-the-clock testing to pinpoint and correct the malfunction. The company is committed to ensuring passenger safety and minimizing service disruption during this critical repair period.

On August 22, 2024, passengers and vehicles found themselves stranded on the 'Manannan' in Liverpool, caused by the severe movement of the link span. In light of these conditions, Steam Packet opted to delay disembarkation until the high water mark, expecting that this would enhance the safety and comfort for those looking to leave the vessel.

On April 8, 2024, the 'Manannan' ferry faced an unexpected situation when it docked in Liverpool at approximately 09:45 a.m. BST. Passengers on board found themselves waiting for over three hours before being able to disembark, as worsening wind and tidal conditions in the River Mersey rendered it unsafe to let them off. The vessel's master made the crucial decision to postpone disembarkation due to the increasing impact of the conditions on the ship's stability alongside the berth. After the situation improved, the 'Manannan' resumed its journey back to Douglas, departing at 2:45 p.m.