Tynwald Committee to Examine Steam Packet

A Tynwald committee is to explore the sea services agreement and the Treasury’s role as shareholder of the Steam Packet.

The committee was formed after an amendment to Jason Moorhouse’s bid to see the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority to consider regulating the company.

However, while Mr Moorhouse was unsuccessful, Tynwald instead decided to back Dr Haywood’s amendment to establish a select committee of three members that will take evidence from the Steam Packet board and ‘relevant government departments’.

The committee will include Dr Haywood, Ann Corlett and Jason Moorhouse and its report should be submitted by the last day of September 2025 and debated by the December 2024 sitting.

Speaking in Tywnald, Dr Haywood said: ‘I think I share with other honourable members a growing sense of frustration, the apparent lack of understanding by the Isle of Man Steam Packet board about the political, social and economic impacts of their operations.

‘It would seem obvious to me that either direct political representative into the board with or without a vote would help the board to understand some of the ramifications of the decisions they take and to help them avoid future public relations disasters, such as issuing fire and rehire notices in the days before Christmas.’

How Times Change

The issues going to a Tynwald committee will be as no surprise to long-term Tynwald watchers, alongside Manx Radio the company has ended up being dragged before committees for one reason or another more than anyone down the years.

However, with members keen to explore its political, social and economic impact, this is uncharted waters for Tynwald and the company.

It will however no doubt point to its positive work on the island including sponsoring clubs and assisting with off-island travel for different groups and promoting Manx products.

Equally for those who have long enough memories will remember in 2023 that Discover Diving, a company which Dr Haywood is a member of, was supported by the Steam Packet to visit the wreck of the Mona’s Queen.

At the time, Packet MD Brian Thomson said: ‘We were happy to help Discover Diving’s expedition – our links to the people and port of Dunkirk were forged in the heat of battle and a moment of great peril for all of Europe, maintaining them in times of peace gives us a chance to reflect on the great sacrifices that were asked of everyone in those times.’

Discover Diving also thanked the Steam Packet, along with others, for sponsoring the project and a book on the history of the Dunkirk evacuation and the dive was even on sale on board the Steam Packet’s ships.

It just goes to show, especially on an island like this, a year is very long time in politics.