Ferry stays in harbour

THE Newhaven/Dieppe cross-Channel ferry Sardinia Vera remained docked in France this week as engineers carried out vital safety work.

After UK and French safety teams found 31 safety failings, ferry-operator Transmanche, which charters the ship from Corsica Ferries, decided to cancel all services.

Corsica Ferries was told to improve crew emergency drill proficiency and repair a leaking inner bow door and faulty fire sprinkler system.

Since safety problems first emerged on November 29 Transmanche has been forced to turn away business estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Despite the faults the ship can sail but only with a maximum of 12 passengers and vehicles. Transmanche has decided against this, insisting all repairs are carried out before the ferry sails again.

Transmanche Newhaven operations manager Steve Forrest said Italian engineers were working to repair the faults.

He added: 'Transmanche has said Corsica Ferries has got to get the ship in order before it will allow it to sail again.

He was hopeful the ferry would resume its crossings by Monday.

After the second joint inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and French Centre de Securitie Affaires Maritimes on Wednesday last week the MCA said it would not return until inspectors from the ship s flag state, Italy, had confirmed all work had been completed.

Leader of the MCA team Bryan Hopkins said: 'We have said that further improvements are necessary and that we will come back and re-inspect the vessel once the flag state has conducted its checks and tells us that everything is okay.