Passengers who used the Rosignol to New Amsterdam (NA) ferry service at around 5:30 am yesterday complained that they were delayed for some time after the MV Torani drifted away from the stelling.
They said when the boat almost reached NA it passed the stelling and took a while to get back to the spot to moor. They said they never got to their destination until about 7 am.
This newspaper understands that the vessel developed a problem with the compressor causing the air pressure to drop and the engine to cut off. The problem was rectified and the vessel started working normally again, a source said.
But around 1 pm yesterday after the vessel left the Rosignol stelling one of the engines conked out and it was operating on only one. This newspaper was told that the engine was fixed before the ferry reached the NA stelling.
The Torani was also taking in water on Thursday night and workers at the stelling spent about two hours trying to bail the water out. A private company was also called in to pump out the water.
But that pump broke down after a while and the next morning another pump arrived from the Transport & Harbours Department in Georgetown. In the meantime the pontoon, MV Sandaka had to load and offload through the Torani.
According to reports workers had to use sandbags to prevent the water from seeping in.
They also used cement to block the hole where the water was coming in. Recently the Torani was taking in water and the NA fire tender had to be summoned to get rid of the water.
Meanwhile the MV Makouria which had to go to Georgetown after the drive-shaft broke and the propeller fell off was expected to be back in Berbice from today. Officials at T&HD had hired persons to look for the propeller but they came up empty-handed. The propeller was however, replaced.
Commuters are complaining that when the pontoon is working along with the other boat they have to wait a long time in the line before they are finally able to take across their vehicles. The pontoon cannot carry heavy vehicles and yesterday this newspaper noticed a long line of truck waiting to get across. (Shabna Ullah)
