Manx Line
Manx Line was the name of the ferry company that brought the Roll on-roll off era to the Isle of Man between 1979-1984. It wasn't the first company called "Manx Line", with another company having used the same name in the late 19th century.
 | |
| Industry | Shipping |
|---|---|
| Fate | Merged with Isle of Man Steam Packet Company |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Irish Sea |
Key people | Geoff Duke CEO |
| Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
History
The company operated one Spanish vessel, Monte Castillo, which was renamed Manx Viking. It emerged that motorcycle ace Geoff Duke was head of this new venture. Many people preferred this exciting new concept of travel to rival company the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's sideloaders and passenger only turbine steamers. The company had very good advertising and became popular very quickly, however, the Manx Viking broke down quite frequently in the first year of operations.
Manx Line offered a service from Douglas to the Heysham. The first easterly gale to blow in the year of 1978 destroyed the Manx Line linkspan in Douglas Harbour, and caused £1 million of damage to the Victoria Pier. It took five years to settle the matter, but by that time Sealink had taken over the Manx Line operation, and continued to operate the Manx Viking on the same route, offering strong competition to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, who purchased a linkspan in 1980, and took out a charter on the P&O Ferries vessel NF Jaguar (later Peveril) in rivalry to the Manx Viking.
Manx Line, as part of Sealink, was later sold to Sea Containers, and became the vehicle for a reverse takeover by Sea Containers of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, so consolidating the two Manx businesses.
Fleet
Manx Line operated only one vessel. Various other vessels covered during their seven-year period of operation.
- MV Manx Viking. She continued to operate on the Manx shipping scene until 1986 when she was replaced by Peveril and was sold to a Norwegian company as the Manx, later Skudenes. She was sold on again to a Canadian company as the Nindawayma.
- MS Viking III (charter in 1980)
References
- Basnett, Stan (2006). Manx Line. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947855.