Ferry refit delayed by inspections and essential works hits milestone

THE refit of one of the Torpoint ferries has reached a milestone - but its return to service has been delayed.

- LORNA HUGHES

The Lynher is one of three vessels operating on the route between Plymouth and Cornwall.

In April she went into dry dock in Falmouth for what was meant to be a roughly eight-week refit, including replacing obsolete and worn-out systems and equipment on the prows and hull and repainting above and below the waterline.

A spokesperson for operator Tamar Crossings said dry-docking allowed inspections to be carried out to ensure the ferry would be safe for a further five years.

These, however, identified a need for further essential work.

Bad weather at the start of the refit and the need for more repairs which could only be done in dry dock meant her return journey to Torpoint would now be later than originally predicted.

Work had also begun on replacing the Lynher’s outdated computer control system, but the next stage of this complex scheme could only be completed once the vessel was back in the water.