Correspondence between DESC and the SPC re adult child ratios

Authority	Department of Education, Sport and Culture
Date received	2025-01-10
Outcome	Some information sent but part exempt
Outcome date	2025-01-22
Case ID	4361778

Summary

The request sought correspondence between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Steam Packet Company regarding adult-to-child ratios on vessels. The authority released a policy document detailing the new ratios effective October 2024, though the response was partially exempt.

Key Facts

A new adult-to-child ratio policy was introduced by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company on 24 October 2024.
Groups of eight or more people traveling together are defined as a group and must be booked via the Reservations Team.
For groups with up to 10 children, a minimum of 2 adults is required.
For groups with more than 10 children, one additional adult is required for every five children.
The maximum group size allowed for a single booking is 60 children accompanied by 12 adults.

Data Disclosed

24 Oct 2024
12 November 2024
8 people
0-15 years
10 Children
2 Adults
5 children
60 children
12 adults
18 months

Original Request

Please provide all correspondence which has taken place between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Steam Packet Company in relation to the ratio of adults/children travelling onboard Steam Packet vessels.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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From:

Sent: 12 November 2024 12:59 To: @steam-packet.com' @steam-packet.com> Subject: Letter from the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture

Dear

Please find attached a letter from Daphne Caine MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture for your attention.

Kind regards,

Our Organisational Values: Respect, Integrity, Caring, Fairness & Trust

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No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board.

RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.

Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish.

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Correct as of November 2024 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Adult/Child Ratio Policy Group Travel POLICY: Passenger safety is our top priority and this policy ensures the safety and comfort of the group, fellow passengers and our crew whilst traveling on our vessels. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company defines a group as more than 8 people traveling together on one ticket. Groups of eight or more must be booked via the Reservations Team either via email or telephone. Groups including children (0-15 years) must adhere to the following ratios of adults to children: Up to 10 Children, 2 Adults. Above 10 children one additional adult for every five children who travel. Groups will continue to have the option of purchasing a confirmed seat on board at a discounted rate and the maximum group size for any one booking will be 60 children with 12 adults. BACKGROUND:
Children’s group travel is managed through the company’s group reservations and capacity control (yield) teams. All group bookings can only be made in the system after we review, approve and load the sailing schedules for the next 18 months. Each year prior to loading our sailing schedules the management and leadership teams review a number of varying factors such as tidal restrictions, freight, private vehicle’s, coach parties, adult / children’s groups, operations and other areas of the business which may impact our customers journey. During this review a point of health and safety was raised about the issue of inadequate supervision of groups on board and in particular those with children. As a result of a detailed discussion on this issue a
ratio policy of one adult to five children was introduced to coincide with the new schedule being launched on the 24 Oct 2024. PRIMARY HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN ON BOARD: In the event that there is an incident onboard, such as fire or flooding, the ship’s crew will initiate emergency procedures, this includes closing water tight and fire doors. There is an increased risk with large groups of unsupervised children being separated from their supervisors/guardians. This situation will create an increased level of stress not only in the children but also the supervisors/guardians. The resultant panic will spread amongst other passengers, resulting in a situation that could become out of control and overload the ship’s crew who are trying to focus on dealing with the emergency at hand. If the emergency situation develops and leads to evacuation of the vessel, the large group of separated children now become the sole responsibility of the ship’s crew who will not be able to give the required attention to those passengers who requested it at the time of booking, for example disabled or elderly passengers. As a safety conscientious operator, we have to ensure we can comply with rules and regulations relating to evacuation times of the vessel in the event of an emergency, which are scrutinised by Isle of Man Ship Registry and our classification societies. We have to consider any additional time required to assist or supervise passengers requiring assistance. Having a large group of unsupervised children would potentially result in us not complying. ONGOING HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN ON BOARD: Accessing the outside decks whilst unsupervised by group leaders Knocking into passengers who are carrying hot beverages and food Bumping into elderly or infirm passengers who are trying to use the walkways Throwing items of food at each other in our seating areas Spilling drinks whilst running unsupervised around the passenger walkways Damage caused to the new children’s play area on Manannan Disturbances to passengers cabins doors on deck 8 and lifts on Manxman Correct as of November 2024 PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE ON BOARD: Numerous PSO’s warnings to group supervisors about on-board behaviours Numerous announcements made about unsupervised children Group leaders refused alcohol at the bar whilst in charge of child groups Numerous passenger complaints onboard about children being unsupervised Warning instruction issued by an officer from the Bridge about behaviours Information letter about onboard behaviour issued at the point of group booking confirmation Warning notices issued post travel about future travel on board our vessels SUMMARY: When our 2025 /26 schedules were released no group bookings had been made for travel during this period. Our group reservations team have been informing customers of this new policy and the rationale for its introduction. Whilst we fully appreciate that businesses and education bodies who specialise in group travel for young children to and from the Island may be impacted by this policy, they must fully accept that our primary concern is for the health, safety and comfort of all our passengers. We are keen to work with all groups to address their concerns and have suggested different ways in which these private businesses and educational bodies can address the child adult ratios via volunteers, parents or guardians being recruited to accompany groups traveling on board. Correct as of November 2024 From: Graham.Kinrade@gov.im To: @Steam-Packet.com Sent: Mon Dec 16 2024 09:39:24 GMT Subject: Steam Packet/DESC

Dear ,

Further to our email correspondence, this meeting has been arranged between you and Graham Kinrade, Chief Officer of DESC to discuss the ratios to travel for school trips.

Kind regards

Policy, Strategy & Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St Johns, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS 01624 | @gov.im | www.gov.im/desc

Our Organisational Values: Respect, Integrity, Caring, Fairness & Trust

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Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4361778 22nd January 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 10 January 2025, which states:

"Please provide all correspondence which has taken place between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Steam Packet Company in relation to the ratio of adults/children travelling onboard Steam Packet vessels."

Our response to your request is as follows: Please find enclosed copies of the information held.

Redacted Content s25(b)(i)&(ii) While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information included within the information you have requested because it is absolutely exempt under section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that: • The Department of Education, Sport and Culture is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • The Department of Education, Sport and Culture is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Department of Education Sport and Culture can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met.
Please quote the reference number 4361778 in any future communications.

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