Floating bridge breakdown costs Isle of Wight Council more than £100,000

A software problem with a chain ferry has ended up costing a local authority more than £100,000.

Floating Bridge 6, which crosses the Medina River in Cowes, Isle of Wight, was out of action for a month over the summer.

The period included Cowes Week, when thousands of people flocked to the island in late July.

Lost revenue and the cost of repairs came to a total of £112,000, an Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said.

The Cowes to East Cowes chain ferry was grounded between 16 July and 15 August, and the software needed a technical specialist to carry out repairs.

It meant the crossing, which was out of action during the height of the summer holidays, was replaced by a smaller foot passenger launch.

Contractors installed a manual hard switch system that replicated the essential aspects of the failed software system and needed the approval of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency before it could be on the water again.

The council also undertook "preventative" maintenance works that the council hopes will reduce further downtime in the future.

A review is currently being carried out on the vessel, costing the council £47,520, focusing on Floating Bridge 6's last "two remaining issues" and ways the authority could fix them.

The £3.2m chain ferry has been plagued with issues since it started service in 2017.

The council previously considered replacing it due to problems including breakdowns, broken chains, excessive noise and cars scraping their bumpers.

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