Long detours needed after ferry breaks down

Long detours needed after ferry breaks down

2 October 2013

COMMUTERS on the Ards Peninsula faced a 45-mile addition to their journey yesterday morning when the one remaining Strangford ferry broke down.

With the main ferry away on its annual refit, no back up service was available when the smaller MV Strangford ferry developed a mechanical fault.

A foot passenger ferry was brought into operation for around four hours before service was resumed by late morning.

Portaferry councillor Joe Boyle said many schoolchildren trying to cross the Lough faced delays, with adjoining school bus services also disrupted.

“The passenger ferry can only take about 25 at a time, you would have needed about five of these runs,” he said.

Councillor Boyle also claimed there was a lack of information on the ferry signs leading in to the town. Describing it as frequently unreliable service, he added: “You couldn’t make it up here. One ferry goes off to be looked at and the back up breaks down.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said the disruption caused to commuters was unacceptable and said she was writing to Roads Minister Danny Kennedy on the issue.

“This will have caused great inconvenience to many people,” she said. “This stretch of the Lough is very much treated as a main road would be by local people.”

A Department for Regional Development spokesman apologised for any inconvenience caused.

“Following the failure of a mechanical seal on the MV Strangford, for safety reasons the vessel was taken out of service for around four hours for repairs,” he said.

“The MV Portaferry II, a similar vehicle ferry, was not available as it was undergoing its annual refit. The MV Rachlyn, a foot passenger ferry, was immediately brought into service.

“While the unexpected change to the normal ferry service was broadcast on local radio, via text service, and on road side variable message boards, the Department regrets any inconvenience to passengers.

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