Public invited to officially welcome Manxman home

Event to be live streamed from Douglas Head today

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's new flagship Manxman will be publicly welcomed to her home port today (9 July).

The new 1000-person capacity ship completed her 12,000 nautical mile journey from South Korea last Sunday.

The public will be invited to watch a live stream via a screen on Douglas Head, as the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's Managing Director, Brian Thomson, makes a speech on the quayside, before the traditional champagne bottle is broken onto Manxman’s bow.

The honour of wishing Manxman well will fall to Janice McDowall, Liverpool Terminal Manager and employee of the Company for over 20 years.

Timings for the day:

11:15am - Speeches and champagne bottle breaking.

12:30pm - Build and delivery keynote speeches.

22:30pm - Fireworks and Manxman sail by.

Whilst the Manxman was built to replace Ben-my-Chree on the Heysham freight route, on the completion of the new Liverpool terminal, Manxman will make weekend visits in the winter. 

A small group of VIP guests including the Chief Minister, Treasury Minister, Board and Executive of Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and representatives of Hyundai Heavy Industries will be invited for a private tour of the vessel and to meet the captain. 

The public will also be able to watch presentations broadcast from the car deck explaining the history of the project, the delivery voyage from Korea to Southampton and an insight into the art commissioned for the boat. 

At around 10:30pm, Manxman will steam out into the bay, for a fireworks display.

Sunday will also see the release of details on how to enter a draw to win tickets for Manxman’s maiden service voyage, scheduled for later in the month.