New Name for Incat 050
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced the new name for Incat 050, the 96 metre
Wave Piercing Catamaran recently purchased for its Irish Sea fleet. Manannan is a happy choice,
reflecting on the company’s desire to focus on its Manx heritage while sharing in the mystique of
the God of the Sea and protector of the Isle of Man.
Manannan is set to enter service on the Liverpool – Douglas Isle of Man route next year. She was
purchased in Tasmania and undertook a month-long 11,868 mile trip to Britain in July. The craft is
currently in Portsmouth undergoing a substantial refit. As well as additional structural work,
including a new vehicle ramp, she will have an entirely new and extended internal passenger layout.
As a Wave Piercing Catamaran the Manannan, which will replace the monohull craft Viking, will be
the largest vessel of its type on the Irish Sea, significantly enhancing the Steam Packet’s service
due to a faster cruising speed, greater vehicle, passenger and freight back-up capacity and
increased levels of passenger comfort.
Isle of Man Steam Packet CEO Mark Woodward commented, “This is a major step forward for us
and a significant investment for the future. Everyone at the Company is looking forward to seeing
Manannan when she finally arrives in Manx waters in her new livery.”
Incat 050 was built in Tasmania in 1998 and after a period of commercial service in Australia & New
Zealand, was chartered to the US Military for evaluation purposes in 2001. Because of its most
recent use, it has significantly less hours of service than a vessel of comparable age, and is ideally
suited for the substantial refit proposed to provide passengers with the best quality and up to date
facilities which will equal or better anything found on similar vessels operating around the British
Isles.
