Adverse conditions associated with Storm Floris have caused notable disruption to ferry operations in the Irish Sea, specifically affecting sailings between the Isle of Man and north-west England. Gale-force winds led to the cancellation of both the morning and afternoon fast-craft crossings of the vessel Manannan between Douglas and Liverpool on Monday.
While the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's primary vessel, Manxman, was able to depart Douglas for Heysham at 08:30 BST as scheduled, a return crossing originally slated for 14:15 may face delays depending on prevailing sea conditions. A yellow wind warning had initially been issued for gusts reaching up to 50 mph (80 km/h), though Ronaldsway Met Office has since lifted the alert, indicating the most severe conditions had passed over the island.
Despite this, operational adjustments remain in place. The company has stated that Manannan’s scheduled 16:00 sailing is expected to proceed, though with an extended voyage time—anticipated to be approximately 30 minutes longer than the standard crossing.
A travel advisory issued by the Steam Packet Company noted the unpredictable nature of the forecast and advised that further disruption or cancellations remained possible. Passengers with bookings for Monday have been offered the opportunity to amend their travel arrangements without incurring additional charges.