A military vessel reimagined. A passenger ferry reborn. The challenge? Bridging defence and civilian transport. A vessel with a storied past, ready for a new chapter.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company faced a unique challenge: converting the former military vessel USS Joint Venture into the high-speed passenger ferry, HSC Manannan. With roots from Tasmania to US Navy service, this 96-metre ferry needed a transformation for modern passenger demands.

Houlder worked closely with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to procure the vessel and design its conversion. We expanded passenger capacity by adding a lower passenger deck extension and a larger sky lounge. This created room for over 820 passengers, nearly doubling its original capacity.

We managed the installation of two new passenger lifts and designed a vehicle ramp for efficient loading. Later, a removable mezzanine deck was introduced, boosting motorcycle capacity by 10% during peak periods like the Isle of Man TT race.