The Isle of Man Electric Telegraph Company, formed in 1859, connected the island to the wider telegraph network via a 36-nautical-mile submarine cable laid from Cranstal, north of Ramsey, to St Bees in Cumbria in August 1859, using the chartered cable ship Resolute. Strong currents at Cranstal proved unworkable, and in 1864 the cable was lifted and relaid further south at Port-e-Vullen in Ramsey Bay, marking the start of the island's direct telecommunications link to Britain.