HUNDREDS of passengers were left waiting when the maiden voyage of a historic new Seacat service from Lancashire to the Isle of Man was delayed.

A rope became trapped in part of the state-of-the art catamaran and the journey, which was supposed to illustrate the speed of the catamaran, took more than three hours.

After getting the 230 passengers to Douglas on reduced power she was taken out of service because the trapped rope could not be removed.