The Cowes Floating Bridge will be out of action for at least 12 days in March to allow for an inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and routine maintenance.
It has been confirmed by the Isle of Wight Council that the East Cowes to Cowes service will be grounded between Monday 20th March and Friday 31st March – a total period of 12 days.
During this time the MCA will conduct an annual inspection of the vessel and the Council will undertake planned annual/bi-annual maintenance works.
The now all too familiar replacement launch for foot passengers and cyclists will be operating.
The Schedule of maintenance works to be undertaken includes:
- Replacement of drive motor and hydraulics pump
- Inspection of hydraulic system and voids
- Lifting of all guidewheels and inspection/change out if required
- 2-year replacement of the prow cables
- Prow stress point inspection and replacement of prow hinge pins
- Installation of safety walkways in engine rooms
- Replacement of start-up batteries and wiper rocker switches
- Bilge float system service
- Overhaul of the touchscreen units to ensure that all software is up to date and fully functional
- Vessel cleaning/painting where applicable
- Chain pit pump out/inspection
- Staff Training
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure, has said:
“The MCA’s visit is a very important time of the year for the Floating Bridge. The annual inspection ensures that we meet our obligations for operating a vessel in public service and while this takes place we will take the opportunity to carry out necessary planned remedial maintenance works.”
The keyword is in the 8th item listed, BILGE.
Boaty McBoatface returns! I like it as it’s way faster than the floating bridge – foot traffic just pours in and that’s it, no waiting for all the cars to slowly roll one by one, makes your trips so much faster <3
Sorry Mr Jordan but you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear, the thing is a badly designed, badly built and utterly unfit for purpose yet you and the council continue to throw money at it but it is OUR money you are squandering and your over inflated egos will not allow you to admit it is useless and get rid of it.
Hang on Den, Don’t forget we should be proud of, err, this thing. AND what happened to our Successful claim against the builders ? Overhaul of the touchscreen units, What a joke. Next it will be updating the sat nav system.
Taking my 4yr old car for service – replace engine, gearbox, wheels,sat nav,abs system and electric window switch and some driving lessons!.
Not – it’s 12yrs old,same engine etc,done 230,000 mile’s just a little service and top up of fuel. How come this bridge does less crossings per hour,less overall time, often out of service,yet is worn out needing new parts?. Thought whole idea of new and upgrade was to be more reliable and better built. Like council I guess,the better it thinks improve services the less and worse the community gets.
Surely “mostly not operating” is a more appropriate term given that it spends more time out of action than actually running.
For the same reason presumably the MCA inspection can only be to confirm it is still there. Little point it checking it’s lack of functionality.
Then again, the council may have negotiated a settlement that will sort everything out. Except we’ll probably never know because they’re hiding behind an NDA so that they can keep us in the dark.
And still our cash keeps being wasted on this piece of rubbish. Can we have a breakdown of how much money this fool Jordan is throwing into all his grand plans and ideas.
There is nothing positive about this floating piece of tat. Yes, maintenance has to be carried out, but this article has two parts I struggle to understand why it’s classed as maintenance.
So, the £3 million floaty mcboaty didn’t come with safety walkways when the IW Council purchased it; why not?
Staff training; I didn’t know they had any staff. I’ve read on this website that the vessel is constantly unavailable due to a lack of staff.
Why isn’t the IW Council allowing transparency on how much it costs the taxpayer to repair this useless piece of metal?
Were to previous eight bridges ever taken out of action for anything like 12 days for inspections. I guess it’s progress !!! Very obvious the No. 5 should have been kept as the spare.
For Christ’s sake why don’t the idiots on the council who purchased this embarrassing pile of garbage admit their expensive mistake and scrap it. Then build a bridge over the river that was talked about years ago.
Would we notice?
Personally I never bother to drive up there now as it is a waste of my time driving on the off chance it may be a blue moon!
The thing is, maintenance. My vehicles all require a regular service and mot etc. This can be factored in as mileage causes wear and tear. Wear and tear comes from usage, some of which can be trips of over 500 miles. It is expected.
This pile of tat laughing stock is lucky to clock up much more than a few miles a month. How much maintenance does this means it needs? If it wears to such an extent it requires prolonged periods out of use for maintenance, then this has not been factored in either!
Just another gripe at something not fit for purpose, a charge that should be labelled on those responsible.
We’re certainly getting value for money here!