The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that the troubled floating bridge will be returning to service later this afternoon (Tuesday).
The Floating Bridge – also known as the chain ferry – has been out of action for 5 weeks due to a technical software and programming system failure, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Now, following a successful inspection from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the East Cowes to Cowes transport link will return at 14:00 – but for how long is anyone’s guess.
A spokesperson for the Council has said:
“Contractors have successfully installed a manual hard switch system, which replicates the essential aspects of the software system which had previously failed.
“During the time that the Floating Bridge has been out of service, we ensured that other preventative maintenance works were carried out on the vessel that cannot be completed whilst in service; this will reduce future downtime.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this time.”
Altogether now….
OH NO IT WON’T….
Now where is the crocodile and the sausages…
Arthur, I’ve now got Zippy & George in my mind.
If you really want a proper laugh at Zippy and George look up their bucket challenge!!!
Much funnier than the non floaty mcredface, and a heck of a lot cheaper.
I give it a week before it breaks again if its lucky
It wont last a week ,maybe three days !!
It will be out of action by the weekend
If you see the sign “Floating Bridge Operating Normally”, you know what that means.
Someone or some people actually need to be prosecuted over this. Shambles.
I think at this rate, by the time they have finished replacing this and repairing that they will have re-built the floating bridge…
The penny is really not dropping yet with the council!
this should be removed and put outside of the Council offices as a monument
When will the council say exactly what the sofware issue was and why it hasn’t been fixed.?
From what has been said it looks like they were relying on software / computer system for ALL control over it.
e.g if the computer crashes (& let’s face it, who know of a computer system that has NEVER crashed…) the FB just couldn’t be stopped..
(imagine if the brakes on you car were like that & if it the computer fails you have no brakes.)
I am really surprised that the MCA ever licenced it, in the first place, without some sort of manual override.
Quite scary really,.. a bit like that Titanic mini-sub that was only controlled with a Bluetooth game controller..
Nah, it definitely is not for all control of It. MCA wouldn’t license it. I was there on a day when it broke and it was mid-journey when alerts started to beep. I think they did few more crossings just fine without it but then someone consulted with the manual or higher-ups at it was pointed out that further operation without this software would be against maritime regulations, even if technically possible.
It is exactly due to licensing you mention that even though technically it’s possible to go without that software, you are not allowed to do so. You can only go back to port.
Yeah , do not ignore the beep, its an iceberg warning. The floating bridge is sinkable, i wish.
Martin you have no chance getting the truth from Cllr Jordan and Co, too busy promoting Beryl Bikes to bother with the floating farce .
Beryl Bikes just like Beryl Scooters are an Health and Safety Hazard.
Helmets should be worn when using them,
Instead Helmets are seen riding them around.
They should be scrapped along with the unreliable floating bridge.
IW Council and Cllr Jordan don’t have a clue about
Health and safety.
Any accidents with beryl bikes yet? A link to Island Echo news is fine, thank you.
5 weeks to fix a software issue.
More than pathetic incompetence.
Yep that’s IWC
Tony there is more to this story than meets the eye , but I.O.W council will NOT disclose the real reason for this failiure
”Contractors have successfully installed a manual hard switch system, which replicates the essential aspects of the software system” … so, a big ON – OFF button has been installed, yep, that will sort it 🙂
They didn’t chance a stop -go button as that would be a bit confusing?
The staff will now require 6 weeks training to enable them to be qualifies to press the big button correctly
Phew lucky it was only a software error and not another catastrophic mechanical failure due to its fully net zero compliant eco friendly civil service bureaucrat signed off design
The people who work on the Boaty-McBoatface haven’t been at work for five weeks. Is their employer paying them in full pay while the computer software is rectified, yet they are staying at home? Or are their skills used elsewhere on the Island while Boaty is being repaired? Also, given the amount of money the tax payer has paid for this shambles, would it have been cheaper to have built a bridge?
It might, or it might not. Fact is, we have what we have.
the question is: who’s paying for the shambles? That’s what IWC are not telling us.
Yes, that crosses my mind, too; who is paying for the shambles?
Does anyone know, since the purchase of this lump of a useless piece of steel, how much has the Isle of Wight Council spent, together with repairs etc?
I don’t remember, ever, when I used the chain ferry in the late ’80s; there was a time it was out of order.
“who’s paying for the shambles?”..
no question,.. WE (the council tax payers) ARE!!!
And we are or have been paying for the ‘Jenny Boat’ replacement on top of normal operational expenditure.
As well as the launch to keep the Bridge on course at certain tides.
Er .. you me and all the other tax payers to IWC are paying for this farce of an asset, and paying the incompetents who sit in IWC throwing our money at the money pit .
Stefan lets hope we will now have a reduction in our council tax or should i say property tax
Don’t you mean a day!!!
When will the council confirm they’ve ordered a replacement, using the compensation money?
They won’t ‘cos they can’t
all they got in compensation was a few quid & a few brown envelopes
(that’s why they refuse to publish how much they got in compensation,.. ‘cos they didn’t get any…)
It must be due for its annual dry dock soon to see if the bottom is rotting out!
When I read the headline, I immediately leapt to search the internet with “Medina + webcam” — and the thing really is moving! This is sure to be headlined tomorrow in the world’s press!
in the crowded pantheon of royal f*ck ups initiad and mismanaged by the IWC, this nationally embarrassing liability is probably the top one.
Stop whingeing everyone. At least we have a service between Cowes and East Cowes.
Imagine what it would be like if it didn’t exist at all.
A bridge across would be better.
What’s the betting it will be out of service by the weekend.
I’ve just come back from Dartmouth where the car ferry across the estuary is a huge raft guided by an old tug boat. There are two of these and they have been working without hitch for decades.
so this unit installed is only a replica .? of what is to be used, i do not use the wight elephant now, and travel via Newport it is so unreliable and should be scrapped , it is now costing tax payers to much money , there is certainly a very big reason why the I.O.W Council will not scrap this unit . and a failure to be honest with the rate payers who keeps on paying evrytime this breaks down