The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has estimated that repairs and drydocking for its flagship ferry Manxman will cost about £5 million (US$7 million).
Both of the vessel's propulsion shafts are now back at the Balaena shipyard in Birkenhead after specialist repairs in Denmark.
The company said the shafts, which were repaired by MarineShaft, had arrived back at the yard as of Saturday, October 10. Propeller components are to be fitted to the shafts before the ferry re-enters dry dock, which is scheduled for October 15.
Reinstallation of the shafts and bearings will follow, along with other external work, inspections and sea trials. The company is targeting a return to service from the end of November.
Manxman was due to move from the yard's wet basin to Gladstone Dock on October 11, subject to tidal and weather conditions. Three tugs were to assist because the vessel is without her propeller shafts.
The drydocking date also depended on berth availability while the shipyard repositioned other vessels.
The repairs are needed because wear was found on both propulsion shaft liners and their associated bearings. The wear was identified during scheduled drydocking that began on July 13.
The company initially expected the ferry back in late September, then revised the timetable on September 8.
The estimate covers the extended drydock period as well as the repairs. The company said it will meet the cost from its own reserves without government funding.
In July, the company informed the UK Treasury, its shareholder, that costs were expected to exceed £2.5 million (US$3.3 million), a threshold requiring shareholder consent.
"The company has commissioned an independent report into the causes of the wear and will be seeking to recover costs through insurance and warranty where appropriate," said Isle of Man Steam Packet Managing Director Brian Thomson.
During the outage, Ben-my-Chree has operated daily passenger services between Douglas and Heysham. Arrow has been brought back to support freight services.
The 24,161GT Manxman was delivered by HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea in 2023. She was built as the company's primary vessel for year-round Heysham sailings.