Almost 600 on board first Manxman crossing

New flagship vessel departs for Heysham

Just under 600 passengers were on board the first Manxman sailing to Heysham when she left Douglas this morning.

The Steam Packet's new flagship vessel left the Island just after 9am, and is expected into Heysham this lunchtime.

Initially, she's just due to operate the daytime crossings, before switching onto the overnight service in a month's time.

These passengers were among the first on board:

The Korean-built vessel arrived in Manx waters at the start of July, with the last few weeks spent preparing the vessel and her crew to enter service.

Ahead of her first departure, the Steam Packet's Managing Director Brian Thomson spoke to Manx Radio's Lewis Foster:

As her scheduled departure time of 8.45am approached, a crowd started to build on Douglas Head, with Manx residents and visitors keen to see her debut departure from Douglas harbour.

Lewis asked some of those gathering why they wanted to mark the occasion:

Slightly, later than expected, the Manxman headed out to sea shortly after 9am, with passengers waving from the outside decks.

She's due to arrive back in Douglas this evening at 6pm, departing Heysham at 2.15pm.