10-DAY SUSPENSION FOR FLOATING BRIDGE THIS DECEMBER DUE TO SIGNIFCANT ‘WEAR AND TEAR’

The Cowes Floating Bridge is to be pulled from service for 10 days to allow for urgent repairs to be undertaken due to unexpected and ‘significant’ wear and tear on several parts. Whilst the Floating Bridge was out of service last week, owing to debris in the chain pits, engineers found that a significant amount of wear and tear had occurred to the chain segments, several guidewheels and the prow bushes. It is likely that some of this deterioration is due to the recent exceptional tides and stormy weather. As a precaution and to avoid a potential total breakdown of the parts, works to carry out rectification of the wear and tear are to be undertaken sooner, rather than later. As a consequence, the Floating Bridge service will be suspended between Monday 4th December and Wednesday 13th December inclusive to undertake the preventative maintenance. It is envisaged that these works will reduce downtime when the Floating Bridge is next out of service for planned maintenance in March 2024. A launch service will be in place for foot passengers and cyclists over the 10-day period.