Bus Vannin Bus Vannin Bus Vannin () - styled as "bus" vannin - is the government-owned and operated bus service on the Isle of Man. The name was adopted in June 2009 to replace Isle of Man Transport. The company was founded on 1 October 1976, as National Transport, which was an amalgamation of two other operating companies. The first omnibus services on the island were provided by the Manxland Bus Co Limited, in addition to several smaller operators which operated independently. The primary means of longer-distance travel were the Isle of Man Railway to the west, south and north (via the
SS Ellan Vannin (1883) Bay, "Ellan Vannin" steamed through them as she made passage to Whitehaven and returned in the evening, the completion of her voyage being heralded by the ships sheltering in the bay sounding their whistles. "Ellan Vannin" became looked upon as a "mascot" of the Steam Packet fleet, and known by Manx sailors as the "Li'l Daisy." On 3 December 1909, "Ellan Vannin" left her home port of Ramsey at 01:13hrs, under the command of her Master, 37 year old Captain James Teare, who had some 18 years of experience working his way through the company to the position of Master.