584:
659:
671:
686:
534:
477:
607:
Carter undertook the service personally, sharing his wealth of local knowledge during the course of the cruise. The re-introduction of this part of the Manx
Tourist Industry proved popular with visitors and locals alike. The end of the 2017 tourist season saw the termination of the service, and the
306:
were severely affected during periods of strong easterly wind, and work began on a new breakwater to afford greater shelter to the port in 1980. The Laxey Towing
Company were to be heavily involved in the course of construction, servicing the construction barges and assisting with the deepening of
472:
As the decade continued shipments of coal to the Isle of Man began to decline, and a period of consolidation was undertaken by the company during which more specialised tasks were pursued as the Laxey Towing
Company sought to establish itself in niche related markets, and into the 1990s this
702:
642:
during a protracted and laborious legal wrangle. Finally in
November 2013 work began on scrapping the vessel, with the work undertaken by the Laxey Towing Company. A somewhat fraught operation followed, however work was completed in January 2014, 14 years after the vessel
522:, coupled with the Liverpool Pilot operation were subsequently undertaken by the Laxey Towing Company together with the ship berthing services which had also been operated by General Marine Services, and part of this included the acquisition of the
26:
385:
Larger sea-going barges were acquired which were also able to use the shallow water port of
Castletown, a fact which was very much to the advantage of coal merchants GMS Fuels which found the service of great use in supplying their
284:, which at one stage was in danger of coming into contact with the Douglas Sea Terminal. Finally the linkspan was secured, and was then taken into the sheltered inner harbour thus preventing any further damage from occurring.
517:
At this time
General Marine Services underwent a period of restructuring, the consequence of which was the pursuit of a more core related business. As a result of this, pilotage services into and out of the
556:
Allied to this, the company still undertakes a wide and varied operation ranging from harbour maintenance in the form of dredging to offering tender services to the numerous cruise liners which now visit
827:
354:
which had used assistance from both Laxey Towing
Company tugs during the course of berthing at Douglas. On her final departure from her home port on the evening of 4 September 1982,
492:
had been the responsibility of
General Marine Services Ltd, a company which had worked closely with the Laxey Towing Company on numerous collaborations over a period of many years.
373:
It was also during the early part of the 1980s that the Laxey Towing
Company expanded its sea-going cargo services, operating from numerous ports around the northern area of the
243:
658:
276:
was adrift in the outer harbour during the course of which it caused considerable damage to the
Victoria Pier. The operation to make the situation safe involved the
878:
685:
883:
444:
encountered significant trouble berthing at Douglas, and so again the tugs of the Laxey Towing Company were called upon to render assistance with both the
295:
from United Towing in order for repairs to be carried out. Once the linkspan was repaired it was reattached to its mooring position at the No. 1 Berth in
670:
768:
725:
495:
Coupled to the Douglas operation, it is often the case that during periods of strong northwesterly wind, operations into and out of the
242:
469:
after departing the port. The Laxey Towing Company successfully salvaged the vessel after she had lain aground for several days.
421:
345:
215:
255:
The Laxey Towing Company has its origins in the late 1970s and initially was involved with light marine work with its original
701:
595:
In 2001 the Laxey Towing Company set about re-establishing a service predominately aimed towards tourists to the
453:
439:
425:
413:. Also at this time a new company was formed; Bulk Cargo Services, with the intention of providing comprehensive
125:. Its registered office is Clovenstones Cottage, Baldrine, with its company offices situated at 30, North Quay,
743:"Free Enterprise III - Tamira - Mona's Isle - Al Fahad - Townsend Thoresen Ferry Photographs - Ferry Postcards"
382:
158:
operations including the administration and eventual disposal of the wreck of the Scottish scallop dredger,
603:
Carter was no stranger to this service, being part of a generation of experienced Douglas boat operators.
228:
476:
726:
https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/retiring-chief-pilot-will-miss-some-parts-of-the-job/
558:
503:
between vessels proving particularly hazardous. It is during such periods that it is routine for the
387:
172:
126:
72:
775:
769:"Manx Marine Environmental Assessment Infrastructure | Shipping and Navigation Douglas Harbour"
533:
355:
349:
846:
550:
496:
341:
was chartered, however that vessel's suitability for the operation appeared open to question.
634:
627:
365:
219:
160:
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and has over many years operated a wide variety of services throughout the harbours of the
692:
639:
546:
519:
431:
410:
378:
303:
296:
211:
138:
31:
511:, and again this operation was undertaken by General Marine Services with the pilot boat
280:, which was on station for a considerable period whilst attempts were made to secure the
583:
272:
which broke away from its moorings during a severe easterly storm in December 1978. The
504:
500:
207:
155:
118:
50:
214:
before his retirement in July, 2023. His final duty in post involved his piloting the
872:
180:
145:. Up to 2017 it also operated summer coastal cruises on board the pleasure cruiser,
644:
508:
435:
196:
167:
Its primary area of operation covers a sizeable part of the eastern segment of the
401:
Carter invest in road-going heavy haulage vehicles, which were operated under the
599:, with the re-introduction of coastal cruises during the summer visiting season.
604:
600:
596:
406:
405:
S.P. Carter, Baldrine. These vehicles included a Scammell heavy transporter, an
398:
236:
203:
176:
142:
134:
130:
122:
88:
76:
613:
489:
466:
402:
391:
318:
with the two vessels working in unison. It was the situation however that the
262:
as well as providing angling services with its utility boat, the twin-screwed
223:
578:
452:
involved in the operation. Subsequently after only six months in operation,
414:
374:
269:
268:
The company's most challenging operation in its early years centered on the
188:
168:
146:
314:
was becoming obsolete, and so the fleet was augmented by the more suitable
25:
288:
281:
273:
184:
334:
323:
292:
256:
192:
742:
805:
632:
Following the subsequent raising of the Scottish scallop dredger the
100:
847:"BBC News - Curtain to fall on Solway Harvester after storm delays"
582:
532:
475:
241:
232:
545:
The Laxey Towing Company still provides pilotage services to the
30:
Laxey Towing Company tug Wendy Ann, berthed at the Office Berth,
322:
required replacement, and was subsequently sold with the larger
302:
By this time it was widely accepted that the operations in the
154:
The Laxey Towing Company has also been involved with various
133:. The company operates under the managerial directorship of
227:
into Douglas upon her arrival following her voyage from the
246:
Laxey Towing Company Headquarters. North Quay, Douglas.
137:
Stephen Carter, providing pilotage facilities for the
333:
1982. As part of the breakwater construction another
800:
798:
796:
541:
and slurry barge, berthed at the South Quay, Douglas
95:
82:
68:
57:
46:
38:
499:are prone to difficulty, with the transferring of
664:LTC utility boat Lonan, slurry barge and pontoon.
364:by the company tugs as well as receiving rousing
828:"Karina to set sail for new life in west Africa"
691:Laxey Towing Company dredging crane pictured at
461:Later that year, in November 1985, the coaster
424:acquired a new vessel, the highly unsuitable
8:
458:was withdrawn from service in October 1985.
53:, Pilotage, Harbour Services, Transportation
18:
737:
735:
733:
24:
17:
612:was subsequently sold to an operator in
718:
654:
507:to be boarded at the pilot station off
591:berthed at the Double Corner, Douglas.
879:Shipping companies of the Isle of Man
841:
839:
837:
762:
760:
7:
348:withdrew its last passenger steamer
310:It was generally accepted that the
884:Water transport in the Isle of Man
329:being introduced as a replacement
14:
488:Until 1994, the operation of the
700:
684:
669:
657:
422:Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
346:Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
216:Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
806:"Isle of Man Pleasure Cruises"
767:daffLhan (12 September 2012).
537:Laxey Towing Company workboat
1:
707:Stern view of tug Wendy Ann.
638:, the vessel lay tied up at
344:It was during 1982 that the
473:diversification continued.
900:
625:
576:
51:Specialised Marine Salvage
430:which it employed on its
291:was taken under tow by a
117:Ltd is a privately owned
23:
808:. iompleasurecruises.com
676:Douglas Pilot Launch MV
480:Douglas Pilot vessel MV
199:and southwest Scotland.
91:Stephen Patrick Carter.
592:
542:
485:
307:the approach channel.
247:
206:Carter was the senior
119:marine salvage company
42:Privately held company
586:
536:
479:
397:This period also saw
245:
229:Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
549:and on occasion the
490:Douglas pilot launch
121:incorporated in the
115:Laxey Towing Company
19:Laxey Towing Company
565:Historic operations
420:In April 1985, the
370:from both vessels.
103:.iompleasurecruises
20:
593:
543:
486:
415:stevedore services
270:Manx Line linkspan
248:
183:, North Wales and
853:. 15 January 2014
781:on 10 August 2014
745:. simplonpc.co.uk
551:Port of Liverpool
529:Current operation
497:Port of Liverpool
362:"guard of honour"
287:Subsequently the
111:
110:
891:
863:
862:
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843:
832:
831:
824:
818:
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815:
813:
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788:
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774:. Archived from
773:
764:
755:
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739:
728:
723:
704:
688:
673:
661:
635:Solway Harvester
628:Solway Harvester
621:Solway Harvester
505:Liverpool Pilots
161:Solway Harvester
107:
104:
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28:
21:
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693:Douglas Harbour
689:
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640:Douglas Harbour
630:
624:
581:
575:
567:
547:Port of Douglas
531:
520:Port of Douglas
465:ran aground in
411:traction engine
304:Port of Douglas
297:Douglas Harbour
253:
212:Port of Douglas
139:Port of Douglas
99:
85:
34:
32:Douglas Harbour
12:
11:
5:
897:
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626:Main article:
623:
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577:Main article:
574:
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438:schedule. The
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409:as well as a
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218:'s new-build
217:
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181:Liverpool Bay
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52:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
27:
22:
16:
855:. Retrieved
850:
822:
810:. Retrieved
783:. Retrieved
776:the original
747:. Retrieved
721:
677:
633:
631:
620:
609:
594:
588:
571:
555:
544:
538:
523:
516:
512:
509:Douglas Head
494:
487:
481:
471:
462:
460:
454:
449:
445:
440:
426:
419:
403:trading name
396:
372:
366:
361:
360:was given a
356:
350:
343:
338:
330:
326:
319:
315:
311:
309:
301:
286:
277:
267:
264:Hopeful Lad.
263:
259:
254:
222:
220:Ro-pax ferry
201:
197:Solway Firth
195:coasts, the
166:
159:
153:
148:
114:
112:
69:Headquarters
61:
39:Company type
15:
597:Isle of Man
463:Sulby River
455:Mona's Isle
441:Mona's Isle
427:Mona's Isle
407:AEC Matador
383:Castletown.
237:South Korea
177:Isle of Man
143:Isle of Man
131:Isle of Man
123:Isle of Man
77:Isle of Man
873:Categories
713:References
678:Girl Mary.
614:The Gambia
524:Girl Mary.
513:Girl Mary.
467:Ramsey Bay
84:Key people
645:foundered
579:MV Karina
482:Girl Mary
450:Salisbury
375:Irish Sea
327:Salisbury
202:Formerly
169:Irish Sea
857:6 August
851:BBC News
812:6 August
785:6 August
749:6 August
394:depots.
392:Balthane
357:Manxman,
351:Manxman,
289:linkspan
282:linkspan
274:linkspan
260:Sunrush,
210:for the
193:Cumbrian
185:Anglesey
47:Industry
651:Gallery
605:Captain
601:Captain
559:Douglas
436:Heysham
432:Douglas
399:Captain
388:Douglas
379:Douglas
367:salutes
320:Sunrush
312:Sunrush
278:Sunrush
251:History
224:Manxman
204:Captain
173:Douglas
156:salvage
149:Karina.
135:Captain
127:Douglas
96:Website
89:Captain
73:Douglas
58:Founded
610:Karina
589:Karina
572:Karina
501:pilots
339:Cabot,
316:Union,
187:, the
779:(PDF)
772:(PDF)
539:Lonan
446:Union
331:circa
233:Ulsan
208:pilot
189:Fylde
179:; to
171:from
62:circa
859:2014
814:2014
787:2014
751:2014
448:and
390:and
381:and
191:and
113:The
105:.com
64:1978
587:MV
570:MV
377:to
335:tug
324:tug
293:tug
257:tug
147:MV
101:www
875::
849:.
836:^
795:^
759:^
732:^
647:.
616:.
561:.
553:.
434:-
417:.
337:,
299:.
239:.
235:,
231:,
175:,
129:,
75:,
861:.
830:.
816:.
789:.
753:.
695:.
484:.
163:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
