Ben-my-Chree withdrawn from service for repairs

[mpprh]

Ben-my-Chree, the Isle of Man to Heysham ferry spent three days docked to have a damaged bow refitted. The bow thrust unit was damaged in May this year by ingested debris. It was removed in June and Ben-my-Chree continued to operate on one bow thrust unit while the second was repaired in Trollhattan, Sweden by Wartsila.

Ben-my-Chree is now back in normal service.

[trevnhil]

Hi Peter, Yes she has been back in service a number of days now. There have been many heated words on one of the Shipping Forums that I am on.

Because of missing bow thruster which was taken out many months ago, the Ben my Chree has not been able to sail in as rough weather as she usually would.
With the recent bad weather she has missed many sailings which she would have been on if she had had the bow thruster. It was not the actual sailing from port to port that was affected but the docking in the harbours. On on such docking manoeuvre in Heysham the ship hit the large bollard in the harbour and sustained a hole in the bow area. Again she was withdrawn from service whilst this was repaired with a patch.

Unfortunately the Ben my Chree is the only ship that the IOMSPco have to take the many trailers twice daily to the IOM. When she is not running the shops are short of food. The Manannan fast craft was brought back into service for almost a week for the ordinary passengers with their cars.

Even since the replacement of the bow thruster the Ben has missed a return sailing due to bad weather. As you can imagine this has resulted in many disappointed people at Douglas and Heysham. Unfortunately it is not just as simple as hopping on the next boat as these are pretty well full up especially at this time of the year.
There are no alternative ferries when the Ben does not run, so lets hope that the New Year brings less troubles for her.

Her is one of my stock pictures showing the Ben reversing onto the ramp she usually uses in Heysham harbour. You can also see the bollard that she collided with. It is correctly labelled 'Dolphin'.





Regards. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Here is another picture taken in Heysham harbour showing the ship 'Clipper Point' making the 180 degree turn that is necessary to reverse onto the ramps.



As you can see ships do get close to each other, and usually it happens without any drama at all.

If anyone is interested in seeing live camera pictures of the harbour, here is the link to the bridge webcam on the Ben.

www.steam-packet.com/en/OurVessels/Ben-My-Chree

Scroll down to the bottom and you will see the webcam view. If you do this at around 12 to 12-15 pm you should see the views from the bridge as the ship enters Heysham harbour. I have to say that they could not really be called pretty. On a Saturday it is Liverpool.

Trev..

[accykeef]

I suppose the Captain swore blind that The Dolphin made a dash for the harbour entrance as he was rotating the ship
The ships may get close to each other but the Captain and Crew are meant to be a highly trained to cope with such manoeuvres. I can see how the walls at the entrance could be a hazard especially when there is a strong wind but not turning in the harbour itself.

I don't do much ferry travelling but is £90 p/p considered reasonable for a foot passenger to the IOM? That's what I have just been quoted.

[trevnhil]

Dec 31, 2011 12:51:05 GMT accykeef said:

I suppose the Captain swore blind that The Dolphin made a dash for the harbour entrance as he was rotating the ship
The ships may get close to each other but the Captain and Crew are meant to be a highly trained to cope with such manoeuvres. I can see how the walls at the entrance could be a hazard especially when there is a strong wind but not turning in the harbour itself.

I don't do much ferry travelling but is £90 p/p considered reasonable for a foot passenger to the IOM? That's what I have just been quoted.

Hi Keith.
I personally think that £ 90 for a foot passenger is far too dear, and of course most other sane people would think so too. However the IOMSP co do have a monopoly, certainly on passengers wishing to sail to the IOM. There is another smaller company running at least one container freight vessel (two maybe) from Glasson dock to Ramsey in the IOM.

With regards to turning in Heysham, to be fair it can be quite difficult, as can entering the harbour at times. Turning in the harbour is at it's worst during high tides and high winds. The Ben in particular had the problem that without the bow thruster it had almost nothing to move the front of the vessel. I say 'almost' because she has been using the small tug 'Sea Trojan' to help.

However the Ben is not the first to come into contact with another object, and she certainly won't be the last.

If you do make a booking fair the IOM ferry, do keep checking their 'sailings' on the website. I do believe that they could have a cancelled sailing or two early next week if the forecast is right.


Off Topic...... but I once was awaiting to take stores on the 'River Lune' and as she entered the harbour, she ran into the round mouth.
Later the captain had me run him round there in our van to see the damage to the wall. He stepped over the metal barrier and just kicked the loose lumps of concrete into the sea.....
Evidence, what evidence. Ha ha.
Regards. Trev..

[mpprh]

Do they still do summer day trips from Heysham to Douglas ?


Peter

[trevnhil]

Hi Peter. I think the only way that you can do a 'Day Trip' is to sort of organise it yourself. You can leave Heysham on the 02-15 boat and come back on the (not sure) 19-15 boat.
We did this a lot of years ago and it is a long day. We had an early breakfast at a cafe, and then a wonder around and then we went on an Island tour.
The day trips that went from Fleetwood with a few hours ashore are certainly not available now.

Keith was complaining about the ticket prices for foot passengers. I have looked and seen a basic return for £38. Maybe it is dearer in the Summer though.

Trev..

[trevnhil]

Here is the latest notice re the possible cancellations of the IOM ferry sailings...

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 Route Vessel Departure Arrival Additional Info Heysham to Douglas Ben-my-Chree Departure: 02:15 Expected arrival: 05:45
DUE TO FORECASTED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS SAILING IS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE DISRUPTION/CANCELLATION. A FUTHER UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT 17:00HRS
Douglas to Heysham Ben-my-Chree Departure: 08:45 Expected arrival: 12:15
DUE TO FORECASTED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS SAILING IS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE DISRUPTION/CANCELLATION. A FUTHER UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT 17:00HRS
Heysham to Douglas Ben-my-Chree Departure: 14:15 Expected arrival: 17:45
DUE TO FORECASTED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS SAILING IS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE DISRUPTION/CANCELLATION. A FUTHER UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT 17:00HRS
Douglas to Heysham Ben-my-Chree Departure: 19:45 Expected arrival: 23:15
DUE TO FORECASTED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS SAILING IS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE DISRUPTION/CANCELLATION. A FUTHER UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT 17:00HRS


Trev..

[accykeef]

Being an old skin-flint, I wouldn't even consider paying that sort of money as a foot passenger. We were planning a trip to Ireland and thought it might be worth spending a few days on the IOM. It is a pity that the Seacat stopped sailing from Heysham to Belfast, a trip we took in 2002 on an adventurous fortnight touring Ireland by public transport.

If anyone is bored, they may like to read my account of the trip
www.studiosoft.co.uk/cgi-bin/makepage.cgi?page=irish1.tmpl&item=A Tour of Ireland

[trevnhil]

I'm reading it bit by bit and it's not boring at all.

Trev..

[accykeef]

The Ireland trip was easily the best trip either of us has been on.

... Why is it called Dolphin, is it because nobody knows it's porpoise?

[trevnhil]

Jan 3, 2012 21:15:32 GMT accykeef said:

The Ireland trip was easily the best trip either of us has been on.

... Why is it called Dolphin, is it because nobody knows it's porpoise?

Ha ha..I must admit that the name has me puzzled as well

I have still to get back to your Ireland trip, but the days that I have read were very interesting and I like the way you tell it. ;D

Trev..

[trevnhil]

A little bit off topic... But we have been talking about the Ben my Chree and other ships having to take care when turning 180 degrees in Heysham harbour.

Seatruck is a company which have ships coming and going from Heysham Harbour. Very recently they have taken delivery of another newly built ship called the Seatruck Progress. No doubt it may get to Heysham sometime in the future

Boy does this ship look big. Today is the first time I have seen a photo of it sailing along with a cargo on board. The picture is below and although it is copyrighted I have permission to use it. There is also the link to a slide show with pictures of the interior.....




www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMvMeELfVkI&feature=youtu.be



Cheers. Trev..

[WillowTheWhisp]

If I seem to disappear for a while I shall be reading Keef's Ireland adventures.