Extra sailing to clear freight backlog this weekend

Thu, 05 Jan 2012

There'll be an extra Ben my Chree sailing at the weekend to help clear the freight backlog.

Severe gale force winds mean a number of sailings have been cancelled this week.

The Steam Packet Company says the cancellations have been down to the direction of the wind.

The Ben was due to have a maintenance break on Saturday evening, but it will now sail to Heysham at 8.00pm, returning at 2.15 on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the Ben my Chree left for Heysham around an hour late this morning due to the weather conditions.

The Steam Packet initially put the 8.45am sailing back until 10.00am, but the Ben my Chree left Douglas at around 9.45am.

The delay means the return crossing at 2.15pm has also been put back.

That crossing is now expected to depart at 3.15pm, with passengers asked to check in as normal.