TIMESSteam Packet

Issue 13, Winter 2013

News • Timetables

2013 Brochure and Feature Holidays

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company started 2013 with a bang,by offering passengers 50% off Standard Vehicle Fares for travelduring 2013.

It’s not too late for you to save on your travel this year. Whetherit’s a wedding, family gathering, meeting up with friends or a breakaway, you can save 50% on Standard Vehicle Fares: car plus driverand additional passengers when you book before the 31st January.

Simply use the discount codes below when you make your booking:

Chief Executive, Mark Woodward said: ‘We aredelighted to be able to offer passengers a greatdiscount on travel to and from the Island in2013. Many of us travel to the UK and Irelandfor a number of reasons throughout the yearincluding family gatherings, weddings, businesstrips and holidays closer to home. A lot of usalso have friends and family who live off-island,who we don’t get to see as often as we like.They too can use our special discount codes tosave money on their travel.’

To take advantage of the offer, visit WWW.STEAM-PACKET.COM and enter the relevant fare code when making your booking.

*Terms and conditions apply and subject to availability. Valid for newStandard Vehicle Fare bookings made between 07.01.13-31.01.13 for travelup until 31.12.13 (excluding 21.05.13 - 14.06.13 and 16.08.13 - 02.09.13).50% off Standard Fares only, the latest full fuel surcharges will apply. SpecialOffer Conditions apply.

50% off Special Offer on 2013 Travel

Visit WWW.STEAM-PACKET.COM

Quote CJSF for

50% OFFStandard Return Fare

Quote DJSF for

50% OFFStandard 5 Day

Return Fare

Very Competitive!

Short Break Packages from just £99 per person

Steam Packet Holidays can tailor make ferry andaccommodation packages for individuals, families orgroups travelling for a multitude of reasons.

Last year we organised inclusive packages for clients who were going on:

Rugby Trips Football Trips

Hockey Trips Hen Weekends

Stag Weekends Concert Trips

Theatre Breaks BMX Competitions

Shopping Breaks British Superbike Weekends

Theme Park Trips Visit Family or Friends

With rates available at over 1,100hotels throughout the UK andIreland the list of destinationsavailable to you is endless.

Why not let Steam Packet Holidays give you a quotecall 645777 or email: info@steampacketholidays.com

Terms and conditions: Package breaks are subject to availability. Prices are based on two people travelling as foot passengers sharing twin/double room. Car supplement is valid for short breaks (max 4 nights)1Jan-31 March + 14 Sept – 31 Dec 2013. Car supplements for longer breaks and at other times are available on request.

2 Night Ferry &Accomodation

Packages from just

£99per person

Why not let us give you a quote?

Travelling in a group?We can arrange

to include minibusor coach transfers

in the price of your trip.

Take your car from

only £45extra!

If at least twopeople purchase apackage together

In 2008 an independent Tynwald Select Committee conducted a comparison of faresacross the Irish Sea and concluded that the Isle of Man Steam Packet Companypassenger fares in both summer and winter were ‘very competitive’.

The Steam Packet Company has recently conducted its own online research into 2013price per mile comparisons and found that it remains one of the most competitive.

During 2013 the Steam Packet will be offering over 900,000 special offer seats and thevast majority of people travelling with us will benefit from these special offers.

Chief Executive, Mark Woodward said: ‘We carry out onboard surveys each year toensure that the service we are offering to our passengers meets our standards and theirexpectations. Our most recent survey confirmed that the majority of passengers believethat our services offer value for money (Fig 1).

Based on online quotes on 06/12/12 for the dates specified. The 50% Off January Offer has not been used in the rates shown.

Ferry Fare Comparisons 20134th-8th July 2013 Route Car + 2 return Mileage Cost per mile

Condor Ferries Poole-Guernsey £215 158 £1.36

Steam Packet Douglas-Liverpool £196 142 £1.38

P&O Dover-Calais £95 48 £1.98

Stena Line Holyhead-Dublin £274 124 £2.20

Irish Ferries Holyhead-Dublin £298 124 £2.40

Stena Line Belfast-Cairnyran £254 94 £2.70

Calmac Stornaway-Ullapool n/a 86

Ferry Fare Comparisons 201325th-29th March 2013 Route Car + 2 Return Mileage Cost per mile

Steam Packet Douglas-Liverpool £191 142 £1.34

Condor Ferries Poole-Guernsey £215 158 £1.36

Calmac Stornaway-Ullapool £119 86 £1.37

P&O Dover-Calais £84 48 £1.75

Stena Line Holyhead-Dublin £250 124 £2.01

Irish Ferries Holyhead-Dublin £276 124 £2.22

Stena Line Belfast-Cairnyran £240 94 £2.55

Fig 1.

How do you perceive this to be value for money?

41.1%

11.64%

30.48%

4.45%

12.33%

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor

Source: Onboard Survey 31 Jul 2012 to 02 Dec 2012. Sample size: 587.

‘We are pleased with the results of the survey. With our January offer of 50% offStandard Vehicle Fares for travel in 2013 it is even easier for passengers to savemoney on their travel.’

VisitOcean Avenuefor some fantastic savings.

Up to 50% off recommended retail prices on leading brandfragrances and many other offers.

To Douglas from Liverpool Heysham

Mon 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Tues 1915 0215 & 1415Wed 1915 0215 & 1415Thurs 1915 0215 & 1415Fri 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Sat 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Sun 1915 0215 & 1415

From Douglas toLiverpool Heysham

Mon 0730 & 1500 0845 & 1945Tues 1500 0845 & 1945Wed 1500 0845 & 1945Thurs 1500 0845 & 1945Fri 0730 & 1500 0845 & 1945Sat 0730 & 1500 0845 & 2000Sun 1500 0845 & 1945

To Douglas from Liverpool Heysham

Mon 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Tues 1915 0215 & 1415Wed 1915 0215 & 1415Thurs 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Fri 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Sat 1115 & 1915 0215 & 1415Sun 1915 0215 & 1415

From Douglas toLiverpool Heysham

Mon 0730 & 1500 0845 & 1945Tues 1500 0845 & 1945Wed 1500 0845 & 1945Thurs 0730 & 1500 0845 & 1945Fri 0730 & 1500 0845 & 1945Sat 0730 & 1500 0845 & 2000Sun 1500 0845 & 1945

11th January to 21st March 2013 & 4th November 2013 to 9th January 2014

22nd March to 21st May 2013 & 10th September to 3rd November 2013

11th June to 9th September 2013

TT PERIOD: 22nd May - 10th June visit STEAM-PACKET.COM for details

From Douglas to Liverpool Birkenhead Heysham

Mon 0845 & 1945Tues 0845 & 1945Wed 0845 & 1945Thurs 0845 & 1945Fri 0845 & 1945Sat 0800 2000Sun 0800 1945

To Douglas fromLiverpool Birkenhead Heysham

Mon 0215 & 1415Tues 0215 & 1415Wed 0215 & 1415Thurs 0215 & 1415Fri 0215 & 1415Sat 1400 0215Sun 1400 0215

Heysham: No 2000 on 12/1, 9/2, 9/3, 30/11, 21/12 & 28/12. No 1945 24/12,25/12 & 31/12. No 0845 25/12.

Heysham: No 0215 13/1, 10/2, 10/3, 1/12, 22/12, 25/12, 26/12, 29/12 & 1/1/14. 0215 becomes 0130 14/11. 0215 becomes 0150 30/11. No 1415 on 25/12.

Heysham: No 2000 6/4, 13/4, 20/4, 27/4, 11/5, 14/9, 21/9, 28/9, 5/10 & 2/11Liverpool: No 1500 23/3, 29/3, 29/10 & 30/10. No 0730 25/3 & from 4/10 to 3/11.0730 becomes 1000 on 5/10, 12/10, 19/10, 26/10 & 2/11. Extra 0730 28/3, 2/4, 4/4, 9/4,11/4, 14/4 & 2/5.

Heysham: No 0215 7/4, 14/4, 21/4, 28/4, 12/5, 15/9, 22/9, 29/9, 6/10 & 3/11. 1415 becomes 1200 on 6/10 Liverpool: No 1115 23/3, 25/3 & from 4/10 to 3/11. Extra 1115 on 28/3,2/4, 4/4, 9/4, 11/4, 14/4 & 2/5. No 1915 29/3, 29/10 & 30/10.

Heysham: No 2000 15/6, 6/7, 13/7, 20/7, 3/8,10/8, 17/8, 24/8, 31/8 & 7/9.Liverpool: No 0730 20/6, 12/7 & 18/7. 0730 becomes 0600 23/8. 0730 becomes0700 24/8. Extra 0730 18/8, 27/8, 1/9, & 3/9. 1500 becomes 1530 22/8, 24/8 & 25/8.1500 becomes 1430 23/8. 1500 becomes 1630 26/8 - 2/9.

Heysham: No 0215 16/6, 7/7, 14/7, 21/7, 4/8, 11/8, 18/8, 25/8, 1/9 & 8/9.Liverpool: 1115 becomes 1130 22/8 & 24/8. 1115 becomes 1030 23/8. 1915becomes 2030 22/8 & 24/8 - 2/9. Extra 1115 on 18/8, 27/8, 1/9 & 3/9. No 1115on 20/6, 12/7 &18/7.

To Douglas from IrelandWed 27 Fri 29 Sun 31 Wed 3 Sun 14 Sun 21 Sun 28 Wed 1Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast10.45 18.45 10.45 10.45 01.00 01.00 01.00 10.45

Sun 5 Thur 16 Sun 19 Thur 23 Sun 26 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thur 30 Fri 31 Sun 2Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Larne Larne Belfast10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.15 09.45 23.59 23.59 13.30

Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Fri 7 Sat 8 Tue 11 Wed 12 Sun 16 Tue 18 Wed 19 Sun 23Larne Dublin Larne Larne Larne Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast23.30 22.00 23.30 23.30 23.30 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45

Tue 25 Wed 26 Sun 30 Tue 2 Wed 3 Sun 7 Tue 9 Wed 10 Fri 12 Sun 14Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 01.00

Sun 14 Tue 16 Wed 17 Sun 21 Sun 21 Tue 23 Wed 24 Sun 28 Tue 30 Wed 31Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin10.45 10.45 10.45 01.00 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45

Sun 4 Sun 4 Tue 6 Wed 7 Sun 11 Tue 13 Wed 14 Sun 18 Tue 20 Wed 21 Sun 25Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast01.00 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 10.45 01.00 10.45 10.45 01.00

Sun 25 Wed 28 Sun 1 Wed 11 Sun 15 Sun 22 Sun 29 Sun 22 Sun 29Dublin Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Dublin Dublin10.45 10.45 01.00 10.45 01.00 01.00 01.00 01.00 01.00

From Douglas to IrelandWed 27 Fri 29 Sun 31 Wed 3 Sat 13 Sat 20 Sat 27 Wed 1Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast07.00 15.00 07.00 07.00 19.30 19.30 19.30 07.00

Sun 5 Thur 16 Sun 19 Thur 23 Sun 26 Tue 28 Wed 29 Fri 31 Sat 1 Sun 2Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Larne Larne Belfast07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 06.00 05.00 03.00 03.00 09.15

Tue 4 Tue 4 Thur 6 Sat 8 Sun 9 Tue 11 Wed 12 Sun 16 Tue 18 Wed 19 Sun 23Larne Dublin Larne Larne Larne Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast03.00 18.00 03.00 03.00 03.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00

Tue 25 Wed 26 Sun 30 Tue 2 Wed 3 Sun 7 Tue 9 Wed 10 Fri 12 Sat 13Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 19.30

Sun 14 Tue 16 Wed 17 Sat 20 Sun 21 Tue 23 Wed 24 Sun 28 Tue 30 Wed 31Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Dublin07.00 07.00 07.00 19.30 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00

Sat 3 Sun 4 Tue 6 Wed 7 Sun 11 Tue 13 Wed 14 Sat 17 Tue 20 Wed 21 Sat 24Dublin Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast Dublin Belfast Belfast19.30 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 07.00 19.30 07.00 07.00 19.30

Sun 25 Wed 28 Sat 31 Wed 11 Sat 14 Sat 21 Sat 28 Sat 21 Sat 28Dublin Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Dublin Dublin07.00 07.00 19.30 07.00 19.30 19.30 19.30 19.30 19.30

Jun

Se

pThis timetable provides a summary of scheduled services. Due to planned maintenance requirements andotheroperational reasons, sailings on a particular day may vary. Please check online at STEAM-PACKET.COMor withour reservations team on 661661 at time of booking.

Mar

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Jun

July

Au

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Dec

Mar

May

Ap

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SPECIAL OFFERS

All fares are online prices at STEAM-PACKET.COM, subject to availability, supplements of £7.50 per passenger and £15 per vehicle apply for telephone and in person bookings.All prices subject to alteration and include all fuel surcharges and taxes applicable at time of publication.All fares are “From” fares, prices vary over time and sailing to sailing. All Car Offers must be booked at least 48 hours in advance and all Foot Passenger Offers must be booked 24 hours in advance.* Journeys must be completed within 3 days - day of outward sailing counts as day 1. Return sailing must commence on or before day 3.^ Journeys must be completed within 5 days - day of outward sailing counts as day 1. Return sailing must commence on or before day 5.** Per single leg crossing for Friday, Saturday and Sunday travel (excluding Belfast and Dublin for Car Special Offers)† Both your outward and return journeys must be scheduled to depart between 18:00 and 03:00 hrs.Details of maximum standard fares and sailing tariffs are published on STEAM-PACKET.COM and are available on request.For payment by credit card a fee of £3 applies per transaction. Not per person.

New Year 2013 Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Autumn 2013 Weekend 11/01/13 - 28/02/13 01/03/13-21/05/13 11/06/13-09/09/13 10/09/13-09/01/14 Supplement**

Per Vehicle

Midweek (Mon - Thu) 3 Day Return Offer* Car + 2 Each way from £67.00 £67.00 n/a

5 Day Short Break Offer^ Car + 2 Each way from £67.00 £88.00 £98.00 £88.00 £15-£20

Any Length Special Offer Car + 2 Each way from £77.00 £107.00 £119.00 £107.00 £24-£32

Starlight Offer † Car + 4 Each way from £132.00 £139.00 £132.00 £15-£20

Day Trip Offer Car + 4 Each way from £69.00 £87.00 £92.00 £87.00 £0-£15

Foot/Additional Vehicle Passenger - Adult From £18.00 Child from £17.00 Each way between 11/01/13-09/01/14 £3.50 per person weekend supplement** Motorbike offers available – visit STEAM-PACKET.COM for details

Please check our Timetables page atwww.steam-packet.com/Timetables for the latest timetable information. You will be able to select

the route/date range you are interested in and then print or save the timetable.

STEAM-PACKET.COM

Information contained in this brochure was correct at time of print 8 /1/13Steam Packet Holidays: Subject to availability and Steam Packet Holidays Terms and Conditions apply.

Various photographs are courtesy of visitbritain.com

Cycle for Sunflowers

1. BOOKING & PAYING

1.1 Passenger DescriptionsAdult = 16 to 59 years. Senior Citizen = 60+ years. Child = 4 to 15 years.

Infants under 4 years may travel free of charge but must be included inthe number of passengers when booking.

1.2 Private Vehicle DescriptionsCar = Up to 1.8 metres high. High Car = Over 1.8 metres high but withinthe vessel limitation. Motorcycles with sidecars and trikes should be bookedas Motorcycle Sidecars. When booking motorhomes and vehicles withtrailers you must provide accurate details of height and length at the timeof booking. Vehicles in excess of the declared length / height / weight maybe refused shipment. If accepted the vehicle will be subject to surcharge.

1.3 Vehicle Deck LimitationsPlease ensure that your vehicle adheres to the maximum limitationsdetailed. If not, you may not be permitted onboard the vessel.

Manannan: Liverpool route restrictionsHeight: 3.4 metres. Length Single Vehicle: 6.5 metres. Vehicle towingtrailer : 10 metres (5 metre towing vehicle and 5 metre trailer). Width:2 metres. Weight: 4 tonnes.

Manannan can accommodate larger vehicles on the Belfast, Dublinand Heysham routes although a 4 tonne weight limit is in force onthe Belfast route. In these circumstances contact must be made withour Reservations Team on +44 (0) 1624 661661 to confirmrequirements prior to booking.

Ben-my-Chree: Height: 4 metres. Length: 18 metres. Width: 2.5 metres.The Ben-my-Chree can accommodate larger vehicles, please contactour Reservations Team on the number above to confirmrequirements prior to booking.

1.4 Vehicles with Low Ground ClearanceDrivers of vehicles with low ground clearance may not be able totravel on some sailings due to tidal conditions and shore facilities.Please ensure that you check with us before booking. We recommendtravel on the Ben-my-Chree for such vehicles.

1.5 When payment is duePayment for all bookings is due at the time of booking unless westate otherwise. We will be entitled to cancel bookings without noticeif full payment has not been received.

1.6 How to PayPayment may be made online by major credit or debit card. Paymentmay be made in person by major credit or debit card, cash or bycheque. Bookings paid for by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) aresubject to a non-refundable charge per booking. Bookings paid for usingdebit card will not incur a charge. Bookings paid for by cheque must bepaid at least ten working days prior to travel.

1.7 Online FaresSpecial Offers shown in this brochure are online fares, which may onlybe booked at STEAM-PACKET.COM. supplements of £7.50 perpassenger and £15.00 per vehicle apply for telephone and in personbookings. Please note coaches / vans / freight cannot be booked online.For vans/freight reservations please contact our Reservations Team onthe number above to make your booking or enquiry. For coachreservations please call +44 (0)1624 645 693.

1.8 Fuel SurchargeWe reserve the right to levy a fuel surcharge to reflect the changingcosts of marine fuel. Prices shown in this brochure include a fuelsurcharge which is reviewed every 3 months. Please visit STEAM-PACKET.COM for details.

1.9 Travel Lead TimeTravel must commence within 13 months of the booking date and anyreturn travel must be within 12 months of the outward travel date.

2. SPECIAL OFFER CONDITIONS

ALL SPECIAL OFFERS MUST BE PAID FOR IN FULL AT THE TIMEOF BOOKING. OFFERS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY ANDRESTRICTIONS APPLY. FARE QUOTES CAN ONLY BEGUARANTEED IF PAID FOR AT TIME OF QUOTATION.

2.1 Vehicle Special Offers must be booked a minimum of 48 hours inadvance. Foot passenger Special Offers must be booked a minimum of24 hours in advance, all Special Offers are subject to availability.

2.2 Alterations to booked Special Offer fares are subject to an onlineamendment fee of £5 per person, or offline amendment fee of £10 perperson. You must also pay any increase in the fare applicable. No refunds or credits will be allowed.

2.3 Day trip outward and return journeys must be completed on thesame day (or the following day’s 0215 hrs sailing from Heysham).

2.4 Short Break Return: Journeys must be completed within 5 days –Day of outward sailing counts as day 1, return sailing must commenceon or before day 5.

2.5 Each Way Special Offer fares must be used as part of a returnbooking. If your outward and return sailings are within two differentSpecial Offer date periods (e.g. Summer & Autumn), add the relevanteach way fares together to calculate the amount payable.

2.6 Starlight Offer : To qualify for the Starlight Offer, both youroutward and return journeys must be scheduled to depart between1800 and 0300 hrs.

2.7 All Special Offers are subject to availability. Each Special Offer is subject to specific terms and also the general Conditions of Carriage. Inthe event of a conflict between these conditions and the Special OfferConditions, the Special Offer Conditions shall prevail.

3. STANDARD FARES

A discount of up to 2% is available when booked online. Standard faresare fully flexible but amendments may be subject to a tariff change.Cancellation charges apply.

Further details of maximum standard fares and sailing tariffs arepublished on STEAM-PACKET.COM and are also available on request.

4. VANS/COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

All commercial vehicles (which includes vans) are subject to theprevailing commercial rate and are not bookable online. Howeverthere is a concession to passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle iftravelling for a non-commercial purpose. Conditions apply to thisconcession which must be agreed with us in advance. For further detailsplease contact our Reservations Team on the number above to makeyour booking or enquiry. prior to making a booking. Please note thatif these conditions are not satisfied, we reserve the right to chargecommercial rates at the time of passage.

5. CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS

Changes to bookings may be made subject to availability and subject to the conditions of the booking. Changes to a higher fare and anyamendment fees incurred must be paid for at the time of alteration.

Passengers who cannot travel should let us know as soon as possiblebefore the outward date of travel.

Please note that unused Special Offers will be cancelled immediatelyfollowing their scheduled departure time. No refunds or credits will beallowed against these tickets. All Special Offers are non-refundable.Unused portions of day trip fares are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Applications for refunds of standard fares only must be made in writing to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company RefundsDepartment, Imperial Buildings, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2BY and within 6 months of the outward travel date. Cancellation charges will apply.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FARES, FEES, VESSELS, PORTS ANDSAILING TIMES QUOTED MAY BE SUBJECT TO ALTERATION /CANCELLATION.

Passengers should ensure they have appropriate insurance.

All bookings for travel are subject to the Conditions of Carriage ofPassengers and Luggage of the Isle of Man Steam Packet CompanyLimited. The travel and other information set out above forms partof the Conditions of Carriage, available on our website (STEAM-PACKET.COM), and which apply to any bookings for travel.

Save by Booking Online:We offer some great discounts when you book on our website STEAM-PACKET.COM

• There is a discount of £7.50 per passenger and £15 per vehicle. Standard Fares are even discounted by 2% when booked at STEAM-PACKET.COM

• Over 900,000 offer seats are available during 2013

Reservations and Enquiries Call:Isle of Man - 661661 • International - +44 (0)8722 992992*

*Calls to this number are charged at 10 pence per minute including VAT from a BT landline,calls from other networks and mobile operators may vary.

Travel Information - How to book

Steam Packet Chief Engineer Chris Ball recently helped raise £2,500 for Liverpool Sunflowers, a cancer support charity based on the Aigburth Road in Liverpool. The Greenhill Taverners is a group of regulars at the pub with the same name who took up the challenge of cycling 143 miles from one side of the country to the other. Theystarted from the Yorkshire seaside resort of Bridlington before passing through the Yorkshire Dales and the industrial towns of Lancashire before finishing with a well earnedpint at The Greenhills. Joan Elmer , project Director of Liverpool Sunflowers, said: ‘We are very grateful to the Greenhill Taverners for their hard work and effort both in raising the sponsorships andthen getting onto their bikes’. Chris Ball said ‘The Steam Packet donation of a travel voucher was a great help in raising such a magnificent sum for such a worthy charity’.

Steve Allen, a Passenger Services Assistant on Ben-my-Chree has helped to raise enoughmoney to set up a junior football league in a small African town by organising a charityfootball match. Steve was inspired to help the community in and around the town of PortSt Johns while backpacking through Africa 10 years ago.The charity match between a ‘Steam Packet Select’ and a team from the Isle of Man branchof the Everton Supporters’ Club was staged at Ballafletcher Sports Field, with a raffle andauction at Sam Webb’s bar afterwards. The event raised a total of £1,362, with the proceeds going towards a charity establishedby Steve in aid of the inhabitants of Port St Johns. The money will enable the charity toestablish a junior football league in the town and supply footballs and training equipment.Steve explained: ‘As well as providing football supplies and clothing, the amount raised willbe enough to allow the team to assist the poorest members of its own community and tosupply much needed bunk beds and maintenance to a small orphanage that helps orphanswho are HIV positive.

‘In the next 12 months I want to build a community centre for the remote Mthabanetownship, near to Port St Johns, and such a project would not be possible without thesupport of Island residents for fundraisers such as the charity match.‘I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to orsupported the event in any way. The match was great fun, with the “Steam Packet Select”team winning 9-2 against Everton Supporters’ Club, and I’m so pleased at how well thiswas attended. The raffle and auction proved to be very popular and I’m humbled bypeople’s generosity; it will make a huge difference to the community of Port St Johns.’ The Steam Packet Company was pleased to support the event by donating a travel voucherfor a car and two people to the raffle/auction.Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We are delighted that Steve’s event was such agreat success and were proud to be a part of such a special day. We would also like tothank all who attended and contributed for supporting this very worthwhile cause.’

Ellan Vannin Memorial ServiceA memorial service to the 35 passengers and crew who lost their lives when the SSEllan Vannin sank more than a century ago was held at Ramsey quayside on Monday 3 December.The evening service was organised by Jim and Wendy Douglas of the ManxAid charityand was timed for 6.30pm in tribute of the Steam Packet vessel, which – after settingoff from her home port of Ramsey – succumbed to stormy conditions near Liverpooland sank at 6.30am, December 3, 1909, claiming the lives of all on board.Wreaths were laid on behalf of the people of the Isle of Man by Chief Minister TheHonourable Allan Bell MHK, on behalf of the passengers by Geoff Corkish MHK, andon behalf of the crew by the Steam Packet Company’s Commercial Director John Watt.‘We want to try and do this every year because it is part of the history of the Isle ofMan,’ explained Jim Douglas.

The quayside inter-denominational service was followedby a further 45-minute service in Our Lady Star of theSea and St Maughold Church in Ramsey.There, Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodanplayed Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. David CretneyMHK read a list of the names, and some details of thelives of the passengers who were lost whilst John Watt read a list of the Ellan Vannin’s crew members.Following all of this, a special presentation was made at the Ramsey Park Hotel, toHarry Edmondson, the Liverpool man who is the former custodian of the Ellan VanninMemorial who once again travelled to the island for the memorial service and to lay awreath at the quayside.

Steam Packet supports Steve’s African charity

Image courtesy of Manx National Heritage.