World's most efficient engine selected for the new 'Manxman' vessel

THE Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's new flagship, Manxman, will be powered by what the Guinness World Records describes as the:- "world's most efficient 4 stroke diesel engine." Technology group Wärtsilä has been chosen to supply the new vessel with 2 8 cylinder and 2 10 cylinder engines, which are recognised for a high level of fuel efficiency which reduces exhaust emissions. The Wärtsilä 31 engines will be installed at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in South Korea where Manxman is being constructed. Delivery to the shipyard is expected to commence in early 2022. Work on physically constructing a replacement for the conventional ferry, Ben-my-Chree, is due to start later this year with the new vessel expected to commence service in Spring 2023.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward says reliability, efficiency and low operating costs were all key considerations in the Company's selection. He explained:- "This is a major investment in our fleet and the ultimate aim for when we introduce the new addition is to provide an even higher level of service to the Island community and our customers. Alongside our drive for greater efficiency and lower emissions levels, there is also an ever-increasing focus on the environmental aspects of marine transportation so we were naturally keen to select an engine that can deliver sustainable operations. We'll continue to work closely with Wärtsilä design engineers and the ship builder HMD and look forward to seeing this come to fruition after many months of planning."

James Royston, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Fleet Operations Manager, added:- "After considering many marine engine manufacturers, Wärtsilä was selected for a number of factors. The firm not only has the experience and track record required for such a project, but the engine's diesel consumption is on average around 8% lower than similar sized engines available on the market. In terms of system integration and operational optimisation, we will be able to run a variety of engine combinations to ensure they are always running as close to their most efficient, while suiting both Manxman and the routes it will serve."

Full details of the hybrid propulsion system, which includes energy storage batteries and waste heat recovery, will be provided once the full system design is completed.

Galloway's launches focus group to help reduce sight loss amongst the BAME community

THE sight loss charity Galloway's is working with other organisations to tackle the large number of people within the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community becoming visually impaired. Research from RNIB shows that Asian and minority ethnic groups are at greater risk of eye diseases, compared to other groups and are more likely to go blind. Despite this, they are less likely to attend eye care appointments, allowing their sight to deteriorate. As part of its commitment to providing relevant support to blind and partially sighted people, Galloway's is working with Lancashire BME Network to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health.

It has also launched a focus group to work with BAME individuals and community organisations to raise awareness of the help on offer. 1 of the members is Pendle community radio host Saima Ashraf, who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 17. The 37 year old from Blackburn said:- "I was very pleased to hear Galloway's was putting together a focus group to look at issues within the BAME community. As I am from the Asian community, I understand some of the issues and why some people do not engage and get support. I have met a lot of visually impaired Asian people who are isolated. The purpose of the group is to provide people with the opportunity to meet other people going through the same thing. They can share experiences and share their knowledge of other services and activities. We are trying to inspire other visually impaired people about what can be achieved and remove them from isolation."

This work has been supported by a grant of ₤5,000 from James Tudor Foundation. Stuart Walpole, Community Outreach Sight Loss Advisor at Galloway's, said:- "We are really grateful for the grant from James Tudor Trust, as it has enabled us to pursue our work in engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, such as those from black, Asian, Indian, Polish and other Eastern European communities. We know we will have to work harder to reach these communities, as from research and experience, they are less likely to seek help if they notice their vision deteriorating, meaning they are more likely to go blind. They often experience isolation, as they feel there is a stigma around asking for support. So we want to reach these people and talk to them about eye care and the support we can offer, so they know they are not alone. There may also be a language barrier, so we are working to provide a translation of our key messages so these communities have accessible information."

Stuart is also a representative member of The Independent Race and Equality Panel (I-REP), which is a project of the Lancashire BME Network. The I-REP represents the interests of BAME and other communities, to engage with the public sector, voluntary and other services to address marginalisation and inequalities. Galloway's supports more than 7,000 blind and partially sighted people across Sefton and Lancashire.

Did you know? Galloway's is one of Lancashire's oldest charities. Established in Preston in 1867, the charity has been supporting people with sight loss for over 150 years. Today, the charity supports over 7,000 people every year and offers support across Lancashire and Sefton. More information can be found online at:- Galloways.Org.UK.