01/03/2010 Ben-my-Chree to be out of action for three weeks
THE Ben-my-Chree will be out of service next month for its scheduled dry-docking and overhaul.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel, mainstay of the low season routes to Heysham and Birkenhead, will be out of action between March 6 and March 26.
During this period the company's passenger services to and from the Island will be covered by the fastcraft Manannan, while a chartered vessel will provide the freight service.
20/01/2010 Driver's CPC
January saw the successful completion of the first module in our driver CPC training program. Performed in house the investment in our driving staff is invaluable in ensuring we have a dedicated work force working within industry guidelines and following 'Best Practice' principles. Already we have seen improvements in our efficiency.
06/01/2010 Snow!!!
01/01/2010 Welcome to 2010!
18/11/2009 Graylaw Freight Group's Customer Newsletter Autumn
Over the next few days the latest edition of our customer newsletter will arrive to all of our customers and partners. With a focus on the Channel Islands, Fuel efficiency and paperless invoicing it should prove informative and an interesting quick read.
You can find it in our "Downloads" section of the site.
17/11/2009 We want to know what you think about us
FREE CALENDAR. We would like to know what you think of our services here at Graylaw.
Please take some time to fill out our short questionnaire, and we will send you a free 2010 calendar
The form can be found here Here
01/09/2009 Fuel Duty Rise Comes into Effect
A two pence rise in fuel duty has come into effect, the third such increase in nine months. Stephen Glaister, director of road users' pressure group RAC Foundation, said the latest rise "will hit everybody hard". When VAT is included, the increase will actually total 2.3p. The average price of petrol across the UK is about 105p per litre. The government says the extra duty is needed to help fund public investment.
'Huge effect'
AA president Edmund King said the timing of the rise was "pretty dire", at a time when the UK economy was trying to exit recession.
Mr King said its members were already having to cut back on car journeys due to the high price of fuel, and that this would only increase following the latest rise, meaning the government's revenues will not actually rise.
The Petrol Retailers Association pointed out that the price of fuel would increase again when VAT increases from 15% to 17.5% at the end of the year.
"It would have been preferable for the government to defer this increase until 2010," its spokesman said.
Jo Tanner, director of communications at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said existing high fuel prices were already having a "huge effect" on its members.
She said the freight transport sector had already seen its fuel bills rise by £800m since last December, at the same time as a 50% increase in insolvencies.
Richard George, a road and climate campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, said the government should be spending the duty increase on public transport, and not just putting it into the government's general budget.
"If the money was going into public transport, drivers would be better off as there would be less cars on the road, less congestion for them," he said.
04/06/2009 Graylaw Freight Group's Customer Newsletter Summer 2009
Over the next few days the latest edition of our customer newsletter will arrive to all of our customers and partners. With a focus on the Isle of Man TT races and exciting news about our software development it should prove informative and an interesting quick read.
You can find it in our "Downloads" section of the site.
04/06/2009 Take a walk on the wild side
Over the school holidays 3FM wants you to take a walk on the wild side.
Graylaw Freight Group have teamed up with 3FM to give away FREE family passes to the Curraghs Wild Life Park every single day!
Just tune in to win with the more music breakfast show and you could be partying with the penguins, laughing with the lemurs and having fun with the flamingos...
Give your cheeky monkeys something to do over the school holidays with a free family pass for 2 adults and 2 children BUT only if you listen to your radio.
Take a walk on the Wild Side to the Curraghs Wild Life Park with Graylaw Freight Group "The Market leaders to and from the Isle of Man" and the radio station that's the king of the jungle - 3FM!
01/06/2009 Isle of Man Steampacket's new vessel
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s new vessel Manannan has been hailed a success by passengers and a leading maritime author and shipping journalist.
From the moment she started service on the Douglas to Liverpool route on 22 May, Manannan has impressed passengers with her bright, spacious accommodation offering a variety of seating areas, including two cinema lounges, a large bar area at the stern and the Coast-to-Coast cafe that offers a wider selection of food options than on other Steam Packet Company fast craft.
January 09 Isle of Man Steampacket Blog 'A word with Woodward'
Exert taken from 20th January 2009
The Isle of Man Government regulates the fuel surcharges, by reference to the fluctuating costs incurred. We apply fuel surcharges in arrears, based on the actual costs incurred in the previous 6-month period, so there is a time lag before surcharges are increased or reduced. However, the level of surcharges will automatically and (most importantly), fairly reflect any sustained increase or reduction in fuel costs. We review the fuel surcharge in March and September each year. This means we are partially recovering high fuel prices incurred between March and September last year, only now in the 6–month period to March this year.
December 08 Graylaw Freeze Prices until 2010
Despite increases from the shipping companies in excess of 6%, we are holding your 2008 rates until 1st January 2010. May we take this opportunity to thank you for your custom, loyalty and support throughout 2008 and we look forward to working with you in 2009.
