Ferry tickets go cashless in crime crackdown

People will no longer be able to buy a Manx ferry ticket with cash in a bid to "deter illicit activity".

Cash payments have been "exploited by criminal gangs" trying to traffic drugs and cash between the Isle of Man and the UK, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said.

The new rules effect ticket sales in Douglas, Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast, and Dublin.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) said the move to cashless at ports from 27 March was "to enhance safety and security".

The DHA said the police force had been aware of gangs exploiting cash payments for tickets "for some time".

However, change will still be accepted on board Manx vessels.

IOMSPC Managing Director Brian Thomson said the move reflected "the way our customers now prefer to pay and aligns with wider industry trends".

Going cashless would "speed up transaction times, enhance security, and provide a more seamless booking experience", he added.

The company said 1% of its ticket sales were made using cash each year, and the move was a "practical and progressive step".

It added that any passengers that did not have access to banking would not be "penalised" and it urged people in that position to contact the Steam Packet at least seven days before the travel time to organise "alternative payment methods".

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