Engineers Here to Address ‘Vibration Problems’

Engineers from the shipyard which built the Manxman are on the island trying to resolve issues around her performance, the Speaker of the House of Keys has said.

Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson was questioned on the total cost of the taxpayer owned Steam Packet’s flagship this week in Tynwald.

During a supplementary question, Speaker Juan Watterson asked: ‘What I suppose the question is for the ministers is that book now closed and the costs of bringing the asset now fully realised? Or for example, are the engineers that are over from Korea at the moment trying to address the vibration problems on the Manxman, is that yet to be included in the sum for capitalisations for bringing the ship into use?’

Juan Watterson

Dr Allinson didn’t directly address the issue of vibration, but said that there is a warranty period of 18 months for the hull and main machinery, with a 12 month warranty ‘on everything else’.

He added: ‘Also the Steam Packet ompany have also agreed extended warranties on other items in terms of a five year warranty on paint, additional six months on the main generators, in terms of some of the snagging problems that have been, they would be expected to be encountered with any new vessel coming into line. As far as I’m aware those are covered under the initial warranty and so I don’t anticipate any extra costs being passed on to the balance of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company at this time.’

The Steam Packet has said: ‘Passengers travelling on Manxman this week may notice dockyard representatives on board. They may also see vibration monitoring equipment in some public areas of the vessel; this is part of an ongoing programme of quality assurance.’