Linkspan

Summary

The request sought emergency plans for delivering food and people to the Isle of Man if Douglas Harbour or its link spans became inoperable. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the IOM Harbours Business Continuity Plan outlines transferring operations to the remaining linkspan or utilizing alternative berths and container vessels.

Key Facts

• The scenario is covered in the IOM Harbours Business Continuity Plan, Section 4.3.
• If one linkspan is lost, all freight and passenger operations transfer to the second linkspan with rescheduled sailings.
• If both linkspans are lost, operations may utilize the north side of Victoria Pier (berth #3) for lift-on/lift-off.
• Freight operations could be transferred to a chartered small container vessel.
• Alternative ports for container operations include Victoria Pier, Commercial Quay in Ramsey Harbour, and Peel Breakwater.

Data Disclosed

• 4456349
• 2025-02-18
• 2025-03-12
• Section 4.3
• berth #3
• IM1 2RF
• (01624) 686785

Original Request

What emergency plans are in place to deliver food and people to the island if an incident was to render either Douglas Harbour or its two link spans inoperable for a sustained period of time?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 4456349 4 March 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 18 February 2025, which states:

"What emergency plans are in place to deliver food and people to the island if an incident was to render either Douglas Harbour or its two link spans inoperable for a sustained period of time?"

Our response to your request is as follows:

This scenario is covered in the IOM Harbours Business Continuity Plan, Section 4.3 which states:

In the event of losing either linkspan, then all freight and passenger operations would transfer to the second linkspan and sailings rescheduled.

In the event of losing both linkspans, the following options would be considered to ensure limited freight and passenger operations remained:

• Utilise the north side of the Victoria Pier (berth #3) - Passenger and Freight operations (lift on - lift off). • Transfer current freight operations to a container operation by charting a small container vessel which could operate from: o Victoria Pier, Douglas Harbour o Commercial Quay, Ramsey Harbour, and o Peel Breakwater

Please quote the reference number 4456349 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.