WATER level problems at Heysham are to be monitored in a bid to prevent future disruption to ferry services to and from the port.
Isle of Man Steam Packet passenger sailings to and from Douglas have been disrupted over the past week due to concerns about low water levels in the approaches to the harbour entrance.
Siltation due to changing conidtions in Morecambe Bay have be
en blamed and Heysham Port's owners are conducting surveys to see if dredging outside the harbour - which it was allowed to do for the first time in mnay years in 2007 - is necessary again.
A spokesperson for Heysham Port told The Visitor: "In 2007 the Isle of Man Steam Packet ferries were delayed on just a few occasions out of some 700 sailings and some of those issues were not related to access to the harbour entrance.
"However there is a siltation problem in the approaches to Heysham Harbour due to the changing conditions in Morecambe Bay. These are being closely monitored by the port which, for the first time in many years, was last year allowed to undertake dredging outside the harbour and is continuing to maintain surveying and dredging programmes for the harbour entrance while considering further steps to resolve the situation.
"Steam Packet is aware of these problems and the measures being taken in response and has recently embarked upon its own action by altering ballast on its ships.
"Nevertheless some sailings are presently experiencing some minor delays."
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