The Floating bridge – which runs between Cowes and East Cowes – is to remain out of action throughout the whole of Cowes Week 2023, the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed.
It has been over 10 days since the service was suddenly suspended due to a ‘software issue’, as previously reported by Island Echo.
It was originally hoped that the fix wouldn’t take long, however, it has transpired that the issue is more complex with the service set to remain closed for a minimum of 3 more weeks.
As a result of this, come the middle of August – when it is hoped repairs will be completed – the service will have been out of action for nearly 5 weeks.
Council officials have cited an unexpected breakdown in the technical software and programming system as the reason for the issue.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has said:
“The launch service (Jenny Lee) for foot passengers and cyclists operates from 05:00 – 23:15 daily (06:30 23:15 on Sunday 30th July).
“Any passengers wishing to cross the river between 23:15 and 00:45 (between Saturday 29th July and Friday 4th August inclusive) are advised to contact Cowes Water Taxis, who will be operating from Town Quay, Cowes and the Gridiron pontoon, East Cowes. A water taxi can be booked by calling 07551 431993 or 07974 864627 and the charge will be £5 cash per person.
Article continues below this advertisement “Information on bus times and routes can be found on the Southern Vectis website here: https://www.islandbuses.info/services
No specific date has been given for a proposed return for the frequently-interrupted service.
Tow it out to sea and sink the useless piece of junk. Why throw anymore tax payers money at it. It’s not fit for purpose. A disgrace!
An official cites ‘an unexpected breakdown…’
Be honest – it was completely expected.
Who is taking my council tax each month to preside over this humiliating dud?
what time is 00:454 ?
Cllr Jordan You have previously claimed great things about this asset and it reliability, so what are you doing now .. forget your favourite subject Beryl bikes , make the decision to scrap this money wasting asset, cut the losses and stop throwing our money away .
I’m sure when he spouts his spin about reliability in the future, this period of inactivity will be conveniently excluded from the figures. They’re still spading away at the Ryde Interchange also with August in a few days.
TBH when he says or writes anything these days, I switch off, has zero credibility.. wrong person wrong job
Taking 5 weeks (at least) to solve a “software issue” on a chain ferry is not credible.
Surely the MCA can issue temporary clearance to operate? Has anybody asked them?
I would imagine it is the MCA who have pulled the plug.
A “software issue” alone would not take that long to fix, nor would replacing a faulty system. My guess is that there is something majorly non-compliant in the FB systems and the MCA have put their foot down.
Or completely ban it from use just chop it up now no more money for it..cost 3/4 times as much as to have it built..
Interesting! It looks like it requires new components for the computer that runs the floating bridge and safety systems. If that means a completely new system to be built and installed, it is perfectly understandable why it will take so long. What is more of a concern is WHY it has failed so quickly after being in ‘use’ for some time. Transparency from our council would be appreciated. But then, so would honesty and integrity – all of which will not be seen in my lifetime I’m sure.
So where have you heard/seen that it needs hardware bits ? That’s the opposite polarity to a ‘software issue’ …I smell a very dead RAT… Who is going to own up ???
More likely to be a dead mouse.
The wonders of modern technology at their finest!
And then we have the water taxis after 23-15 hours only accepting cash, no cards, could be some long queues at the very limited number of cash points available if they are working.
Why are my taxes wasted time and time again on this boat???
Cracking investment , invest in a crank handle may be better ??
It makes me wonder how they managed to sail that treacherous stretch of water before computer technology?
This is simply unacceptable. Please say exactly what the problem is and stop lying. The software has been working for ~6/7 years. How come it’s suddenly faulty??? Someone needs to fess up with the truth.
Probably running on Windows 95 and now does not work as MS have killed it.
I’m getting sick of this lol literally just sling this service and be done with it man its cost millions and untold environmental damage keeping it afloat (pun intended) just plan your journeys accordingly and allow for a lovely drive because let’s face it theres worse situations to be cut short on then have to drive a rather beautiful part of the country to get to cowes; it’s the isle of wight you dont need to walk miles and miles with a pot on your head do you… ugh
ENOUGH NOW ENOUGH..NO MORE..
Lets have a bridge Stag lane to East Cowes Rd
I am sure Clifton Grade would deal with the issue….
The jenny must be laughing all the way to the bank !!!!!
And £5 cash for a water taxi ?
Are they going to pay tax on the money they take for these journeys?????
To be honest we should get this service free ,considering how much of our money has been wasted…..
Or just get everyone driving, it’s not something a lot of islanders use , so we are subsidising those that do as well as the council …..
We the public could seriously do with some ‘Honest’ answers to things like;
How much is being paid for the Jenny Boat?
including all the times that it has to help to keep it on course when the FB is running.
How much is this ‘Software’ repair going to cost?
Staff wages for those that cannot work because the FB is moored up?
How much revenue has been lost due to this latest failure?
Get the chain ferry back.
Never out of action.
Worked perfectly.
There people who are responsible for this useless piece of junk need to be taken to task.
I sooo agree ! Wasn’t it out of action last year on Cowes week !! I loved the old chain ferry & the sound of it.
There comes a time when even this council must admit defeat and call it a day, there are no confidentially issues this time around so why can the council just not come out what the issue is, if certain councillors are worried about their reputations, then dont be, they are shot already, further cover ups and prevarication smells of something more worrying.
Instead of sitting here, moaning about it, what we should do is protest outside the council offices, because it’s our money that’s been wasted time and time again
As per normal practice, somebody from the council is not telling the truth. Software does not break. Even if the floating bridge was hacked, it’s simple enough to clean the computer (or throw it away) and re-load the code to a new one. Half a day at most. So what actually went wrong?
Although our two ferry companies seem expensive. At least they are reliable, compared to the floating junk, run by the council of secrets.
Why, on earth, has it been designed using a computerised system, its only a floating bridge. To misquote a certain tennis player ‘It cannot be necessary’
It’s a chain ferry not an airliner, Soft ware issue?. My car’s software has lasted 21yrs. Surely it’s an off shelf thing. 3 weeks (5wks) are the council rowing to China ?.
Assume as Council are obliged to run public service, those paying for water taxi can claim £4-50 from IWC.
Ah you see the chain ferry is working perfectly it’s the money taking software that is the issue. So it could be running but they won’t get anything from it is the issue……
Best thing for this is to tow it out into the channel and blow it up.Fuc%%ng waste of time and money.Time for the iow council to get off its arse and build a bridge.
Call it a day council, you did your best and mess everyone’s life up in the process of trying your hardest to keep it moving. Never mind
No don’t oanic folk’s the council apologise for this hiccup !!!!!
Shame they don’t apologise for the complete c–k up in purchasing this heap of junk in the 1st place !!!!!
And transparency re refund, , lol .
The amount of money and time that has been wasted, they could have built a bridge across which would be a lot more practical.