Floating white elephant

[Elessar]

To be replaced at last

Cowes Floating Bridge: Troubled Isle of Wight ferry to be replaced Cowes Floating Bridge: Troubled Isle of Wight ferry to be replaced

No talk of holding anyone to account for buying, specifying or supplying something that wasn’t fit for purpose.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Good news I guess. I doubt that the council will hold itself to account! Don’t think they’ve covered themselves in glory over this matter. Presumably the IOW Council tax payers are the losers.

 

[Pinnacle]

Anyone confident that this next Public Sector procurement will be any better than the last one was?

 

[KevinV]

Anyone confident that this next Public Sector procurement will be any better than the last one was?

I thought "the triumph of hope over experience" was the definition of love? I'm not feeling it.

 

[westernman]

Anyone confident that this next Public Sector procurement will be any better than the last one was?

Better for whom??
Public Sector procurement is always good for some one.

 

[Pinnacle]

Better for whom??
Public Sector procurement is always good for some one.

I was thinking from the perspective of taxpayers.

 

[westernman]

I was thinking from the perspective of taxpayers.

Naive.

Today's politicians never do anything for the benefit of ordinary taxpayers.
But there is always some one who benefits.

 

[Mr Googler]

East Cowes has no luck

YACHT LEFT HANGING AFTER BOAT LIFT SINKS INTO THE GROUND IN EAST COWES

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The floating bridge is a mess. The river is changing, it’s a nearly impossible design brief. We still have yards on the Island, or at least did, who could build one, but none bid for it last time, they all knew.

 

[bowler]

What were the issues?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

What were the issues?

The entry shape to the ramps didn’t match the ramp, and the sideways drag is too high, it drags down tide so much it cannot safely land, on spring tides. They have to have a tug to push it into the tide.

 

[colhel]

Someone told me the chains are too small aswell, also the new breakwater has had an effect on the Medina, possibly increasing the tidal flow

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Someone told me the chains are too small aswell, also the new breakwater has had an effect on the Medina, possibly increasing the tidal flow

Amongst other changes in the river, yes. Possibly all to do with the breakwater. The law of unintended consequences there. I haven’t heard about the chains, but then, if there’s more strain, that could well be so.

 

[Scubadoo]

I don't remember reading any issues with the previous floating bridge, perhaps copy that design.

 

[Elessar]

The entry shape to the ramps didn’t match the ramp, and the sideways drag is too high, it drags down tide so much it cannot safely land, on spring tides. They have to have a tug to push it into the tide.

Why not just fit thrusters rather than need a tug?
(Lateral thinking, literally)
Just needs to be designed for the conditions.
They are predictable after all.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I don't remember reading any issues with the previous floating bridge, perhaps copy that design.

The problems were probably coming down the line.

Why not just fit thrusters rather than need a tug?
(Lateral thinking, literally)
Just needs to be designed for the conditions.
They are predictable after all.

They are predictable. I suppose they didn’t think it would need them. The thing is a standing joke to us Islanders. They’ve had to install electronic signs on routes that might finish there to say if it’s working or not. It's at the point where ‘floating bridge operating normally’ leaves you none the wiser.

 

[volvopaul]

To be replaced at last

Cowes Floating Bridge: Troubled Isle of Wight ferry to be replaced Cowes Floating Bridge: Troubled Isle of Wight ferry to be replaced

No talk of holding anyone to account for buying, specifying or supplying something that wasn’t fit for purpose.

What can we expect as the taxpayers paid for it . Must have been designed by the most useless naval architects ever.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

What can we expect as the taxpayers paid for it . Must have been designed by the most useless naval architects ever.

They may not have been the best, who knows. But you need to remember that our non expert elected representatives drew up the spec.

 

[westernman]

They may not have been the best, who knows. But you need to remember that our non expert elected representatives drew up the spec.

And selected their mates to build it.

 

[Scarron]

I thought the old one was still around somewhere until recently, I believe it was designed by Alan Burnard [Fairey Huntsman, Swordsman etc.] consequently worked properly. Maybe they should buy that back?