Mersey Ferry Services Disrupted
Mersey ferry services are at risk of chaos after part of its landing stage at the Pier Head sank. Fire crews were called out to help evacuate staff and remove equipment from the landing stage, which is also used by the Mersey inshore rescue boat, at around 10 pm on March 1. It is believed exceptionally high tides were responsible for the sinking, which left the landing stage partially under water. Staff from Merseytravel and the Mersey Docks and Harbor Company, which own the stage, as well as the inshore rescue boat, were at the site to assess the damage. It is not known how long ferry services will be disrupted, or the extent of the damage.
A&P Birkenhead Gets Triple Ferry Deal
A&P Group's newly reopened dry dock facility, A&P Birkenhead, has recently completed the dry docking and repairs of Mersey Ferries' 464grt passenger ferry Woodchurch. The Woodchurch is the first of three vessels booked into the yard by Mersey Ferries Ltd, the Passenger Transport Authority and Executive for Merseyside. The three ship contract was won in open competition against other UK ship repairers. The two other ferries, the 303grt Royal Daffodil and her sistership Royal Iris will be dry docked during January and March 2003 respectively. The work content for all three vessels includes general maintenance, minor steel repairs and cleaning and painting the ships hull. Martyn Drye, General Manager of A&P Birkenhead said "We are delighted to have won this important contract.
