Dredging to resolve ferry issues 'before TT races'

Dredging to resolve the current issue of harbour silt that has led to some Manx ferry times being changed is due to be completed before the TT races, the infrastructure minister has said.

Tim Crookall said contractor Boskalis's vessel was due to arrive in Douglas Bay early next week.

The private firm had been contracted after the harbour workboat, Tarroo Ushtey, had identified that a raised area in the central harbour basin was a "developing navigational constraint", he said.

Crookall told the House of Keys that while the timings of some Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry services had been moved at times of very low tides, none had been cancelled as a result.

The Isle of Man TT, which begins on 25 May, marks the busiest period of the year for the government-owned ferry operator.

Crookall said the nature of the material causing the constraints – which was made up of harder clays and stone – meant the Department of Infrastructure's vessel was unable to remove it and heavy plough dredging works would now take place.

The project will "remove the raised feature" to depths of about 20ft (6m) as well as undertaking dredging works at Victoria Pier berth one and King Edward Pier berth five.

There has been a renewed focus on dredging in the island's main port after the flagship vessel Manxman was temporarily grounded last March due to a build up of sediment that had been washed in by the river.

Crookall confirmed there had been a "slight delay of about a week" to the anticipated start of this year's project as the contractor finished off another job before moving vessels around, but work would get under way soon.

Pre and post dredge surveys would "confirm the effectiveness of those works", he said, with monthly dredging by the Tarroo Ushtey set to take place in future.

A plan for a capital dredge, which "will cost us several million pounds" but "take the whole harbour back down to its working depth of six to six-and-a-half metres" was still on the cards, Crookall said.

"That will go into the next capital scheme, hopefully through the next year or the year afterwards, depending on the minister," he added.

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