Cowes Floating Bridge Removed from Service

Well the FB6 saga continues. Yesterday as those with Solent tide tables will have spotted there was a higher than usual tide which clearly caught the replacement by surprise leading to one hour crossing delays. They also remove the water taxi at such times to increase the number of passengers. One in the line was a locus pharmacist who travels to ECowes to fill in and due to delays missed her ferry home to mainland . Another couple opted to take a more reliable taxi via Newport. Clearly one unhappy worker who might question provision of service in future . Don't understand why Jenny lee wasn't working but the replaceplacement service was blamed on rip tide but surely the tide always rips down on a high spring tide? No criticism of ferry staff but seems like the Council need to get a grip. Perhaps this is a plot to boost income at Shepherds and leave ECowes stranded. No need for a Mexican wall for ECowes to be cut off.
 
Perhaps MedinaView could enquire as to why FB6 has been continually moving between E & W Cowes since it's operations were suspended. Seems like a bit of "nose-rubbing-in-it" for the poor folk who are having to put up with the very poor boat service.
 
I reckon it would take nearly an hour and a half by bus, to drive from East Comes to Cowes could be anything from half an hour to an hour.
Even when the ferry was running it would often be worth driving via Newport due to the increased turn around times since that chap got injured a couple of years back.
 
Giblets said:
Perhaps MedinaView could enquire as to why FB6 has been continually moving between E & W Cowes since it's operations were suspended. Seems like a bit of "nose-rubbing-in-it" for the poor folk who are having to put up with the very poor boat service.
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Yes FB6 was spotted crossinG to WCowes on Saturday and it remained firmly parked there but clearly just in case it might have been tempted to break free the cabin seemed to be fully crewed while the Jenny lee sat tethered and the replacement boat failed to make the jetty on the ECowes side . The only benefit was that ECowes marina seems to have plenty of visitor spaces and of course the facilities are considerablely better than Shepherds . It's just a shame no one seems to be able to work out how to run a water taxi and keep the FB6 crossing running at the same time when they are surprised by high tides.
I wonder when the low loader is arriving to take FB6 away as there seems no prospect of anyone working out how to make it work after all these weeks.
 
Sorry to hear that MedinaView-I just thought it was because no one expected the high spring tide in the Medina. We were in no hurry as were going to a great Tapas bar by Shepherds so had to cross but next time we might just find space at W Cowes. Clearly not a choice for those whose work takes then to E Cowes though . I wonder when house prices will be cheaper in EC due to lack of being able to access W Cowes ? Any signs of people selling up yet or businesses failures?
I would have thought some form of local group would be considering action by now against the council given their lamentable failure to fix the problems after all this time ? The IWCC seem to be keeping a low profile though but maybe they are still trying to work out how to repair the roads ?
 
I see there have been a couple of vans on the deck over the last couple of days with bods wandering about in overalls. I wonder if they are actually doing some productive work or just stooges put there by the council to make it look like there is something being done!
 
Giblets said:
I see there have been a couple of vans on the deck over the last couple of days with bods wandering about in overalls. I wonder if they are actually doing some productive work or just stooges put there by the council to make it look like there is something being done!
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I recognize the logo on one of the vans as being that of the builders, Mainstay Marine. It appears that they are carrying out minor repairs or modifications but it's not clear from the webcam what.

Still no signs of any extended fingers on the prows, to overcome the vehicle grounding problems, which were were told at one time would be fitted in July!
 
They have twice changed the chains that support the ramps. Had the bloody thing moored in what seemed to be mid-river last night!
 
As I mentioned some time ago many of the harbour staff know that since the breakwater has been built the stand a high water in the Medina has increased hugely and as a result the outflow through the ferry area is now much greater, perhaps the real culprit is the breakwater and the change of tidal flow and not the new ferry
 
davidmh said:
As I mentioned some time ago many of the harbour staff know that since the breakwater has been built the stand a high water in the Medina has increased hugely and as a result the outflow through the ferry area is now much greater, perhaps the real culprit is the breakwater and the change of tidal flow and not the new ferry
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But surely the designers of said ferry would have carried out a full survey and known of the operating conditions which the craft would encounter before putting pen to drawing board (or finger to keyboard on a CAD system)!
 
Giblets said:
I see there have been a couple of vans on the deck over the last couple of days with bods wandering about in overalls. I wonder if they are actually doing some productive work or just stooges put there by the council to make it look like there is something being done!
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Maybe trying to work out the scrap value? FB5 was for sale at £125k and worked so what's the scrap value of FB6 then?
 
ashtead said:
Maybe trying to work out the scrap value? FB5 was for sale at £125k and worked so what's the scrap value of FB6 then?
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It's worth a lot more than that. Just imagine the new owners could anchor it in the harbour, fit pontoons down each side, a decent kitchen and run it as a restaurant with al fresco dining on the car deck. I reckon you could get 30 boats alongside on a summer satuday night.

Could even run a water taxi to it. :)
 
Giblets said:
But surely the designers of said ferry would have carried out a full survey and known of the operating conditions which the craft would encounter before putting pen to drawing board (or finger to keyboard on a CAD system)!
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Who’s Shirley? :rolleyes:
 
ashtead said:
Maybe trying to work out the scrap value? FB5 was for sale at £125k and worked ...
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Is it still for sale? A few of us could club together, buy it and charter it to IoW council for a fabulous profit.

lpdsn said:
It's worth a lot more than that. Just imagine the new owners could anchor it in the harbour, fit pontoons down each side, a decent kitchen and run it as a restaurant with al fresco dining on the car deck. I reckon you could get 30 boats alongside on a summer satuday night.
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