Earlier this month, Brian Thomson took up his new role as managing director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

He spoke exclusively to the Isle of Man Examiner's Working Week about their new vessel, fares and pride in the company.

’My aspiration, and the board’s aspiration, is to give the Isle of Man public a company that they can be proud of because, essentially, they have ownership of it: it’s the people’s company,’ said Mr Thomson.

It’s not a bad mission statement for a company so vital to the economy of the island, one so interwoven with its history.

On June 30, 1830, the Steam Packet vessel, Mona’s Isle - newly-built at a cost of £7,250 - set out from Douglas to Liverpool on its inaugural sailing.

In doing so it kicked off the tourist industry and changed the Isle of Man’s economic fortunes.

By 1912, the company was operating 14 passenger steamers and a cargo vessel, ferrying more than half a million visitors to the island every year between late May and the end of September.

As well as Liverpool they were also operating ferry services to and from Ardrossan, Belfast, Dublin, Whitehaven and Fleetwood and day excursions to Warrenpoint, Llandudno and Stranraer.

A newspaper editorial described the company’s steamers as ’the greatest and most renowned fleet that ever existed’.

During the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940, Steam Packet passenger vessels picked up 24,000 Allied troops and returned them to England.

Three of the company’s ships were sunk with the loss of 24 crew.

Things are very different now, of course.

The Steam Packet has far fewer vessels and a fraction of the passenger numbers but its importance to the island has not diminished.

For the last year and a half, during all the Covid restrictions and lockdowns, the company has provided a lifeline service.

Referring to the fact that the company is also now in government ownership, Mr Thomson says: ’I think if we had been in private ownership we couldn’t have enjoyed the service that we did.

’The crew over the last year during Covid have been absolutely amazing to keep things going as they have. I know they’ve had some bad press around that and I think people have forgotten the work that they’ve done. They all deserve a medal.’

Looking to the future, Mr Thomson sees other benefits in being in state ownership.

He says: ’When it was owned by another jurisdiction the profits would disappear off there whereas now, when we do get back to profitable, that would stay on the island, which I think is hugely valuable and I think myself and the board certainly do see a time in the future when we can get back to being profitable.

’The bookings are picking up, people are wanting to travel and I think there is an element of tourism that wants to come to the island as well.’

With Covid uncertainty far from over it’s a steep hill to climb.

The Steam Packet posted losses of £10.5 million in 2020, mostly related to the dramatic fall in passenger revenue.

The government recently announced a further equity investment in the company of £5 million.

Mr Thomson says: ’That will allow us to meet our short term financial goals including the Manxman project.’

A naval architect by profession, Mr Thomson is eminently well qualified to oversee the design and build of the island’s new flagship vessel which is currently reaching the end of the design stage.

This is the most critical phase of the project - a problem that costs £1 to rectify on paper may cost £100 to put right at build stage and perhaps £1,000 after build.

Consequently, the planning and design stages tend to take longer than the actual construction of the vessel.

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, where Manxman is being built, is one of the most highly automated shipyards in the world.

Mr Thomson said: ’Most of the drawings have been produced and are going through the process of being approved.

’The technology that they use and the way that they put ships together in Asia, it should come together quite rapidly but it’s on schedule.

’We want it to be in service for TT 2023 and we obviously want to give some time for it to be tested in the Irish Sea, to make sure the fitouts will be what we want and everything is as it should be.’

’We want it to be fantastic and for people to go "Wow" when they come aboard.’

The Manxman will cost £78 million and will carry 940 passengers, as opposed to 639 on the Ben my Chree.

It will have significantly more space for freight and vehicles; 40 cabins; three large 20-person lifts; two pet lounges plus on-board kennels, and a dedicated family area with improved facilities for children.

Once Manxman is in service the plan is that the Ben will replace MV Arrow as the back up vessel and Manannan will continue to operate on the Liverpool route.

One perennial issue that crops up is the cost of both passenger fares and freight.

Mr Thomson said: ’The fares are negotiated with the Department of Infrastructure every year as part of the Sea Service Agreement. It’s not just Steam Packet coming up with the numbers and starting charging. Not many people know that.

’But if you book a fare far enough in advance, it’s very, very good value.’

Mr Thomson, who is originally from Glasgow, came to the island seven years ago to work as principal surveyor for the Isle of Man Ship Registry.

He said: ’That was very interesting - 400 ships to worry about instead of two or three - tankers, superyachts, bulk carriers - everything that’s registered with the Ship Registry.

’The most amazing yacht that I’ve ever been to was the Indian Empress that belonged to the man that owned Kingfisher Indian beer.

’It was decorated by famous artists and the paintings were probably worth more than the yacht.’

He and his family live in Andreas.

’We absolutely love it. I’ve had opportunities to go elsewhere but we’ve chosen to stay on the island.

’Our kids go to Andreas School and Ramsey Grammar and love both schools and I don’t think as parents we could ask for more.’

Now, his focus is on restoring some of the lost pride from yesteryear in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

He said: ’Certainly, personally, that’s what I would like to do and it’s a massive challenge. But we’re a resilient company and we’re going to keep doing our best.’