MP seeks action after latest ferry breakdown

MP seeks action after latest ferry breakdown

12 February 2014

A FURTHER breakdown in the Strangford Ferry service has been described as “unacceptable” by MP Margaret Ritchie.

Miss Ritchie was speaking after users were faced with a 50-mile trip around the Peninsula on Thursday morning when the MV Portaferry suffered mechanical failure.

The backup ferry, the MV Strangford, also had mechanical problems and was out of action.

“The Minister must act urgently to ensure the installation of a new ferry,” said Miss Ritchie.

“Regular users of the ferry commuting to work and school were forced to drive a long journey around the Peninsula after the MV Portaferry suffered mechanical failure.

“The backup ferry, the MV Strangford also had mechanical failure, which meant there was no ferry service until nearly mid day. Even at that stage, with weight restrictions on the MV Strangford, the ferry was not fully operational. This is entirely unacceptable.

“What is disturbing is that this is the second time in 10 weeks there has been problems with the ferry leading to disruption and inconvenience for passengers.”

Miss Ritchie said she had renewed her representations to Roads Minister Danny Kennedy, urging him to bring forward his plans for a new ferry.

“The Strangford ferry is a community and tourism service,” she said. “It is central to the lives of many local people as well as being a great tourism attraction. Therefore it is crucial the service is dependable and efficient for passengers, commuters and tourists alike.”

Back in November the reliability of the Strangford Ferry service was called into question after both main vessels broke down simultaneously.

Just three days after its major annual refit, the larger MV Portaferry II was withdrawn from service due to a fault and the back up vessel, the MV Strangford, was unable to continue due to mechanical failure.

As a result the 25 capacity carrying passenger only ferry was brought into operation.

Previous to this, faults on the MV Strangford vessel delayed the service for commuters while the MV Portaferry was away on its annual refit.

A spokeswoman from the Department for Regional Development said the MV Portaferry was taken out of service on Thursday morning because of unexpected mechanical problems.

“Unfortunately it was not possible to put the back-up ferry into service immediately as it also had mechanical problems,” she said. “A passenger only service operated from 9.30am to 12.45pm. The Department regrets any inconvenience to passengers.”

A project to provide a new ferry is understood to be on target for delivery in April 2016.