'We do have a lemon': Fogo ferry users frustrated by problems with MV Veteran

Residents of Fogo Island and Change Islands are frustrated thattheir newferry, which has been plagued with mechanical problems since it launched last year,is once again out of service.

• MV Veteran undergoing sea trials, final repairs being made
• MV Veteran mechanical problems 'not out of the ordinary', minister says

The Department of Transportation and Works says the MV Veteran has to come to St. John's for morerepairs this time for the port thruster.

"This is crazy. It isdevastating," said Maureen Lynch, a Fogo town councillor and chair of the transportation committee.

"We thought for sure when we got it back this time everything was going to be good, but obviously I guess we do have a lemon."

The MV Beaumont Hamel will be the replacement vessel for the Veteran and air services are planned to get people back and forth from the islands.

A news release from the department of Transportation and Works said fixed wingflights will begin on Tuesday, with a 7:30 a.m. departure from Gander and an 8:15 departure from Fogo Island.

Travellers should contact Air Labrador to reserve a seat.

Helicopters will also operate on an as-needed basis from Farewell between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily.

'At a standstill'

Lynchsaid around 200 people werewaiting as of Monday to get back to Fogo Island, and manyin the town are extremely frustrated.

"Everythingis just at a standstill. It's crazy," said Lynch.

Yes things go wrong, and it happens quiteoften that we need to fix something two,three times.-Jan vanHogerwou

"It's time for government to realize they have to step up and do something drastichere."

Lynch said the town was promised that the MV Captain Earl W.Winsorwould be on standby if the MV Veteran broke down.

She said it doesn't make sense to send the BeaumontHamel, when theWinsorcan carry so many more people.

TheVeteran was out of service for several weeks recently for similar propulsion unit problems.

The ferry has had several mechanical issues since its maiden voyage in December 2015.

Shipbuilder takes full responsibility

A government spokesperson told CBC that thethruster failures area "significant concern," addingthey are holding accountableship buildersDamenShipyards andand engine manufacturersRolls Royce.

Jan vanHogerwou, North American senior executive forDamenShipyards, said his company takes full responsibility for the problems.

"Wewill not rest until this vessel is solid and trustable in operation," he said.

VanHogerwousaid the ship is under a one-year warranty, butthe companywill keep paying for repairs as long as they arenecessary costly as they may be.

"Of course we always hope that this will not happen. Unfortunately they do happen. All that we can do right now is make sure the vessel gets fixed," he said.

"These are very complex machines yes things go wrong, and it happens quiteoften that we need to fix something two,three times."

DamenShipyards and Rolls Royce are under a lot of pressure from the Newfoundland and Labrador government to ensure thevessel is back in service, he added.

DamenShipyards has also built the province's newest ferry,the MVLegionairre.

VanHogerwousaid any problems they discover on the MV Veteran will be proactively fixed on the MVLegionairre.