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Steam Packet reaches agreement with officers' union over live aboard terms

Solution found at negotiations with Nautlius

The Isle of Man Steam Packet says it has reached an agreement with the union representing its officers resolving the issue regarding terms which say they must live aboard the fleet at times.

The company hasn't said what the agreement with Nautilus is, and whether officers will live aboard at times or not.

Managing Director Brian Thomson says: "We are pleased that our Officers and Nautilus brought solutions to our negotiations that have enabled us to reach a positive and fair agreement that ensures that we can continue to deliver a high-quality service to our customers."

"We would like to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication during this period. We can now focus on delivering the reliable and quality service that our passengers expect and deserve on board our vessels which are the envy of the Irish Sea."

The company says the Manxman ferry was designed for live aboard, and the practice allows for more flexibility and resilience to the sailing schedule.

In December, however, union members objected to the proposals and subsequent industrial action, coupled with poor weather, caused disruption over Christmas and New Year.

Manx Radio has contacted the Steam Packet and Nautilus to find out more about the agreement.

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