the Isle of Man. The company planned to use a 32-year-old vessel Cometa. However the venture failed and nothing has been heard since. Current services In return for exclusive use of the government linkspan at Douglas, the Steam Packet Company has guaranteed regular services to the Manx government. and provide regular services to England and Ireland. In addition to the regular routes, the company operates a few special day excursions to other destinations or round the Isle of Man in summer. Extra sailings are scheduled at times of high demand such as the Isle of Man TT period. The company also operates its own in-house travel agency, Steam Packet Holidays. In August 2017, the company announced a consultation to switch sailings from Belfast to Larne, to allow sailings to carry freight, motorhomes and coaches which could not be loaded at Belfast's Albert Quay. The Steam Packet Company operates services between: Douglas - Heysham (Year-round service) Douglas - Liverpool (Seasonal service - March to November) Douglas - Belfast (Seasonal service - April to September & Christmas) Douglas - Dublin (Seasonal service - April to September) Film appearances Steam Packet ships have been used in a number of films. The SS Mona's Queen is seen dockside in Liverpool in the 1935 George Formby comedy No Limit. In the Barbra Streisand film, Yentl the ship carrying emigrants to the United States at the end of the film is the Manxman. The Manxman also appears in Chariots of Fire. The Ben-my-Chree [6] was used in 2004 as a double for an English Channel ferry in the film On a Clear Day. The Lady of Mann was also used in the 2004 film Mickybo and Me and also appears, in Dublin, in Alan Parker's movie "The Commitments". Fleet The company operates three vessels: a year-round conventional RO-PAX vessel, a fastcraft which operates seasonally, and a RO-RO freighter. The freighter is available for use when required, and is otherwise often on short-term charter to other operators throughout the year. In August 2020, the company ordered a new ferry from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to replace Ben-my-Chree upon delivery in 2023. The new ship is to be called . In September 2022 it was announced that Arrow had been purchased from Seatruck Ferries after being on long term charter. Historic fleet The company started with wooden paddle steamers, which soon gave way to the steel