Independent Report
Hundreds of people boarded the Manannan on 26 October 2025 expecting nothing more than a routine crossing between Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
Manannan, 26 October 2025 - An Independent Report into a Sailing Many Passengers Will Never Forget
A Routine Crossing That Was Anything But
Hundreds of people boarded the Manannan on 26 October 2025 expecting nothing more than a routine crossing between Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
Instead, many found themselves caught in conditions they say they will never forget.
Picture the Scene
Children crying as the vessel pitched violently from side to side.
A heavily pregnant woman trying to keep her balance.
Older passengers gripping handrails, uncertain whether the next roll would throw them to the floor.
Disabled passengers struggling to move safely around a ship that no longer felt stable beneath them.
Families wondering how frightened their loved ones really were whilst trying desperately not to show fear themselves.
Below deck, beloved family pets were confined to vehicles they could neither see nor reach. Dogs barked in distress as cars weighing more than a tonne shifted across the vehicle deck, some striking neighbouring vehicles as the vessel rolled in heavy seas.
The sound of metal scraping against metal.
The force of waves crashing against the hull.
Passengers trying to make sense of what was unfolding around them, with no control over the decisions that had placed them there.
For some, the journey ended with damaged vehicles.
For others, physical injuries.
Many were left with emotional distress and a crossing they have never forgotten.
The Questions That Remained
When the vessel finally arrived in Douglas, the voyage may have been over, but the questions had only just begun.
Why did the sailing proceed?
What information was available before departure?
How were decisions made?
What lessons have been learned?
Most importantly, when so many people experience the same event, should the investigation simply end with an internal review by the organisation whose decisions are themselves under scrutiny?
These are not questions of hindsight.
They are questions of public confidence.
Why Bridge to Justice Became Involved
Bridge to Justice was approached by passengers affected by the sailing to undertake an independent review of the available evidence.
Over several months, we examined passenger accounts, verified weather information, photographic evidence, correspondence and publicly available material. The result is a structured, evidence-based report bringing together information that had previously remained scattered across individual complaints, emails and social media discussions.
What Happened Next
The report has now been formally provided to:
- Isle of Man Ship Registry
- Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
- Minister for Infrastructure
- Treasury Minister
- Members of the House of Keys
The report does not seek to determine legal liability.
It seeks to ensure that the experiences of those on board are neither fragmented nor forgotten, and that the wider questions surrounding passenger safety, operational decision-making, regulatory oversight and public accountability receive the consideration they deserve.
Read the Evidence
Update – July 2026
Following the publication of the original report in June 2026, additional information entered the public domain. The report has now been updated to reflect those developments whilst preserving the original investigation in full.
This Updated Edition supersedes the version originally published in June 2026.
Bridge to Justice believes people should be able to read the evidence for themselves.
We therefore invite you to download and read the full Independent Evidence-Based Review.