UPDATED: The problematic Cowes Floating Bridge has been suspended once again, just days after restarting a timetabled service between East and West Cowes.
Vehicles are facing the now regular and lengthy 10-mile diversion via Newport this morning (Thursday) whilst engineers work to resolve what is understood to be a problem with the vessel’s ramps.
It was only last Thursday that the Isle of Wight Council announced that Floating Bridge 6 would resume normal operations from Monday 11th December. Just 4 days later and foot passengers are once again having to use the stand-in water taxi.
Councillor Dave Stewart, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council said last week:
“There has been significant progress and a great deal of determination to get the floating bridge back into action before the busy Christmas period.
“The trial period could mean that the floating bridge may need be taken out of service or not operate a full service at certain times, however, the intention is that it will operate as closely to the published timetable from now on…”.
It remains unclear when the Floating Bridge will resume its trial period.
UPDATE @ 09:30 – A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“During the current floating bridge trial period, a technical fault with one of the ramps has been discovered leading to the service being suspended this morning (Thursday).
“While we investigate and work to resolve the problem, a replacement passenger launch has been put in place.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. An update will be provided later today.”
UPDATE @ 15:55 – The technical fault on the Cowes Floating Bridge has been repaired, meaning a normal service will resume from 16:00 today (Thursday).
A Council spokesperson has said:
“We apologise again for any inconvenience caused”.
UPDATE @ 17:00 – The Cowes Floating Bridge is once again out of service, after only going back into service an hour ago.
UPDATE FRIDAY @ 10:00 – The Isle of Wight Council have this morning confirmed that engineers undertook diagnostics on Floating Bridge 6 yesterday and established an issue with the ramps. Unfortunately, this required the need for a part to be sent overnight and this will be fitted today.
It is hoped that the floating bridge will return to service this afternoon.
UPDATE FRIDAY @ 15:33 – The new part has now been fitted to Floating Bridge 6 and is therefore back in service as of 15:30.
