SS Manxman to be dismantled

Passengers who travelled on cheap ferries to the Isle of Man from Birkenhead may fondly remember their journey onboard the SS Manxman.

The classic vessel, which served the route between Merseyside and Douglas from 1955 to 1982, will soon be dismantled after lying dormant in Pallion Shipyard in Sunderland, the BBC reported.

Its former passengers have been invited to purchase some of the SS Manxman's onboard memorabilia including lifeboats, the ship's badge, decking portholes, anchors and some of its original wood panelling.

News of the ship's breakup will remove any last hopes of it returning to Liverpool to become an attraction for tourists. It was last used in the city as a nightclub, a purpose it also served during a stay in Preston.

Ferries to the Isle of Man are now operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which is the world's oldest continually operating passenger shipping company.

It offers cheap ferry routes between Douglas and Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.

Posted by Mark Robinson