Cowes Floating Bridge: Chain ferry set for 10-day halt for repairs

Floating Bridge 6, which crosses the Medina River in Cowes, Isle of Wight will halt for 10 days from 4 December

Crossings on a problem-plagued chain ferry are set to stop for 10 days while repairs are carried out.

Isle of Wight Council said a "significant amount" of wear and tear in several areas had been found on Floating Bridge No 6.

The authority said it was likely some of the deterioration was due to recent exceptional tides and stormy weather.

The vessel, which crosses from East Cowes to Cowes, will halt between 4 and 13 December.

A launch for foot passengers and cyclists will run while it is out of service, but drivers face a 12-mile detour via Newport.

The council said the preventative wear and tear works will reduce further downtime in the future

The ferry was pulled from service on 13 November until 15 November after storm debris clogged up its chains.

Isle of Wight Council said the issues with chain segments, several guidewheels and its prow bushes, were found during work to clear debris from its chain pits.

It said fixing the problems sooner rather than later were being carried out "as a precaution and to avoid a potential total breakdown of the parts".

The council said it was anticipated these works will reduce downtime in March when the ferry is set for an annual refit.

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