There was something on Radio M'side today about the Steam Racket resuming there so called ferry service from B'head to Douglas next week perhaps Helen knows more.

Nope. Last I heard they were looking for a replacement vessel. Not an easy task, I should think. Keep an eye on http://www.iomonline.im and http://www.manxradio.com for news.

Helen look on the bbc radio m'side website the Ben starts on march 3 douglas to b'head.

So why ask the question if you know the answer???????? :shock:

Full story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merse...389423.stm

It seems like a temporary measure until the Superseacat 2 comes back into service. They'll have to use the Birkenhead side that the Irish boats use as the usual IOM landing stage couldn't handle the Ben.

This has got the brain going,, doesnt take much,
But have the Steam Racket ever sailed from birkenhead?
I know they used to winter the "fleet" there

Anybody got any answers?, Plus it makes for something different to write about!!

Mike

and didn't the ben beach up at heysham a little while ago when there was a low tide-isn't the mersey estuary likely to be of a similar shallow draught?and if it beaches in the mersey well thats the island with no sailings at all till it floats of again!

ZZR 600 wots your problem? i was giving out info i heard briefly on local radio this morning at noon no mention on manx radio web.

gary the nurse Wrote:and didn't the ben beach up at heysham a little while ago when there was a low tide-isn't the mersey estuary likely to be of a similar shallow draught?and if it beaches in the mersey well thats the island with no sailings at all till it floats of again!

Shouldn't be a problem Gary. They'll be using the Twelve Quays landing stage that the Irish sailings use, and those boats are probably bigger than the Ben. They've had tankers and cruise liners the size of Belgium go up that channel.

Now I've said that they'll probably run it aground on one of the sand bars in the estuary!

Well, the Ben has safely berthed for tonight..look here for all boats around the Island...if you're sad like me.

http://www.aisliverpool.org.uk/currentmap.php

Pykey, keep your eyes skinned on the A41. if you see a load of BOC wagons heading for Birkenhell loaded with Oxy and Propane we'll know there's a big cutting up job coming off at Llairds

have that website on me favourites so i can watch boats coing and going around irish sea...and when anything interesting occurs-like a WWII mine is dredged up from mersey or a pussy gets ran over in the mersey or ben runs aground in mersey.....hmmm iomspca and mersey don't appear to have any luck do they?

Got it as a favourite?
You sad git!!

Er, me too! :oops:

Thank goodness for that...thought it was just me (and cargo)...John Foster uses it to identify the ships he sees sailing past PSM...I'll be able to do that re the ones chugging by Castletown soon...

Tom Lough i spotted loads of those wagons on the A4I and i will go tomorrow wagon spotting at Lairds and maybe take some pics.

I'm fed up with the Birkenhead news!

We'd booked next weekend to do Heysham return in a van, and Birkenhead would put at least 2 hours each way on the road journey we've to make, leaving hardly time to turn round.

Have you got a sea view from your new Castletown home, Helen?

Helen....I've got it in my favourites too. :oops:

It's a sad b******s convention...but come the third week in May....

It will be all the others that are sad *******

Charlie as an alternative try TRAIN SPOTTING and join the thousands at Crewe every wekend, there is the Bar if you get bored.

No sea view, John, but can just nip down the street and be there! Alternatively, a short walk to the Southern100 paddock...sheer heaven..

Well I have my invoice at last!
Has to be paid by 3st May.
I notice the usual reference to possible change of vessel and port.
The usual rubbish.
I magine getting on a bus in London and being told
"we may have to drop you off in Watfrod. Yes, I know you booked
for Picadilly. Oh, and we may have to put you on a horse and cart!"
I cant tell if its much dearer because I am taking a bigger vehicle, my nice new Mazda Bongo!"
Oh well, at least will be there.
I saw somewhere that they have boookings for "twice as many bikes",
"already!"
Hmm, we will se

MV