THE Isle of Man's passenger shipping company, which operates out of Heysham, has been sold to financial services group Macquarie Bank Limited.

The Steam Packet Company, which has been operating for 175 years, has been sold for £225 million - to include all vessels, buildings, land holdings and assets.

Macquarie Bank, based in Australia, announced last week it had purchased 100 per cent of the company and says it will be business as usual.

Formed in 1830, Steam Packet is the longest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world.

Macquarie Bank chief financial officer Greg Ward saysthe purchase fits in well with the group's strategy of investing in essential service infrastructure businesses.