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DoI eyes Liverpool ferry terminal site

SPC vessel Manannan at Pier Head

New base set to cost taxpayer £3.5m

The Manx government says it wants to buy a dockland site on the Mersey - with a price tag of £3.5 million.

Later this month Tynwald will be asked to approve funds to purchase land at Princes Half-Tide Dock in Liverpool.

The Department of Infrastructure says it would then invite tenders to design and build a new ferry terminal, to serve the Island into the future.

The site is 800 metres from the Steam Packet's Pier Head landing stage, and closer to the city centre than a previous option to move the Manx operation to Waterloo dock. The current facility is close to the end of its operational life.

DoI minister Phil Gawne says no work would begin on developing the site until agreement's been reached with a ferry company to operate sea routes to and from the Isle of Man.

Negotiations are continuing with the Steam Packet over its £170 million proposals for future services, with a draft deal due to be presented to Tynwald for approval in November.

Mr Gawne says with 10 years of the Packet's user agreement left to run, the time is right to consider owning a piece of real estate in Liverpool:

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