Getting Places - Lady of Mann
The ferry was built in Troon (Scotland) and launched in 1975. Since then it has carried numerous people and cars across the Irish sea.
Lady of Mann is a conventional single hulled ship which can carry 135 cars and 900 passengers. She has a service speed of 21 knots and in her original configuration weighed 4,482 tonnes.
The Lady of Mann generally comes back into service for the Winter. Although it cannot cross the Irish Sea in less than four hours like a SuperSeaCat, it is able to sail in most weather conditions.
There is a similarity between the Titanic and the Lady of Mann (no it didn't run into an ice burg), both have a false funnel (the large funnel towards the front of the Lady of Man is not used).
In January 2005, the winter service continued as normal despite severe gales which resulted in part of the Liverpool landing stage sinking.
On the 20th May 2005 the Lady of Mann sailed to Troon to celebrate the 175 years the Isle of Man Steam Packet company have had a post contract with the Royal Mail.
In May 2005 I heard that tenders are being requested for a new 130 metre conventional ferry to provide the Isle of Man service.
For most of June 2005 there will be numerous sailing to the Isle of Mann for the world famous TT races.
From the end of June to September the ship is usually chartered to Acor Line to sail around the Azores Islands in the Mid Atlantic (west of Portugal).
On the 16th June (2005) she sailed off in the early hours to the Azores Islands. Despite rumours that she had been sold she still had Isle of Man Steam Packet Insignia.
Panagia Soumela
In 2005 she was sold to a Greek company, renamed Panagia Soumela and converted to be handle rear loaded freight. The picture belows shows the ship in a dock during the conversion.
In August 2006 I saw a picture of the ship after the stern freight roro conversion had been completed.
Getting Places.
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Places of Interest.
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