CONNECTS ENGLAND AND IRELAND WITH DOUGLAS IN THE ISLE OF MAN
Trivia from the ferry world: have you ever wondered which is the oldest ferry company? The answer comes from the mysterious Isle of Man: Steam Packet Company active since 1830.
We have already written two articles about ferries to reach theIsle of Man by Liverpool and by Dublin, in both cases the operator connecting these destinations is the Steam Packet Company. The historic operator has been sailing those routes for two centuries, transporting passengers and goods through the waves of the Irish Sea.
History of the Steam Packet Company
Founded on June 30, 1830, the
Steam Packet Company
has never stopped connecting the island with the rest of Britain through its fleet of modern and efficient ferries. Initially, the fledgling company, it was called Mona’s Isle Company but, as a result of some corporate vicissitudes, it took the name Steam Packet.
The history of the Steam Packet Company is inextricably linked to that of the Isle of Man, which became a territory of the British Crown in 1765. The British Crown was forced to purchase this territory to put an end to maritime smuggling. Following the purchase of the island by the British royals, it was necessary to implement maritime traffic to connect it to the rest of the kingdom. Thus it was that the first shipping companies were born including the Steam Packet Company.
Since then many things have changed, and after numerous corporate ups and downs Steam Packet became the Island’s leading ferry company based in the capital city of Douglas. Today it is part of the Macquarie Group, which purchased it in 2005.
Steam Packet Ferries
The Steam Packet Company operator owns a fleet consisting of three ferries and numerous charter boats.
- Ben-My-Chree
- Manxman
- Manannan
The Ben-My-Chree and Manxman ferries are also enabled to transport vehicles, while the Manannan is a catamaran. These are solid and efficient vessels capable of sailing smoothly in the stormy Irish Sea. Since the days of the old steam ferries, progress has been enormous; today crossings from Liverpool and Dublin are fast and safe.
Steam Packet Company ferry routes.
Today the company is the only operator reaching the Isle of Man, below is the list of currently active routes:
- Liverpool – Douglas
- Heysham – Douglas
- Dublin – Douglas
- Belfast – Douglas
Reservations on Ferryfinder
The Isle of Man is certainly a destination full of charm, especially for lovers of Nordic landscapes. One of the last remaining places to encounter true Anglo-Saxon culture. It is one of the most popular destinations in Northern Europe, not only by tourists but also by the many commuters for whom booking is recommended.
Booking a ferry ticket to the Isle of Man through Ferryfinder is a simple and secure operation. Simply fill out
this reservation form
to learn about all possible travel arrangements, schedules and prices. Ferryfinder is connected in real time with Steam Packet Company databases so as to show all available seats and schedules. The site’s internal search engine compares all prices to always offer all routes at the cheapest price.
