An attempt to float the Government tender Bermudian failed yesterday, leaving the ferry still resting on rocks.

Marine and Ports used two tugboats in an attempt to pull the vessel from its perch near Wellington Slip Road.

The vessel was lodged there after it broke loose from its storm moorings during Hurricane Igor on Sunday.

Yesterday's effort to remove it fell a few feet short of the ferry reaching deep water.

"They managed to move the vessel about five feet, but ultimately they were unsuccessful in dislodging it from the shelf it is resting on," a Marine and Ports spokesperson said.

"Marine and Port's priority is to ensure they do not do further damage to the Bermudian."

The department will make another attempt with the assistance of a local contractor to free the ferry using airbags.

"Currently they are in the process of putting the airbags in place.

"They are also waiting for the water to clear so they can send divers to investigate damages and, based on what they see, crews may need to do some excavating," he added.

The Department of Marine and Ports is now continuing its investigation into how the vessel broke loose. On Wednesday the department surmised that the connection between the ship and its mooring had failed.

Sources in the marine industry have told this newspaper the accident happened because the chain holding the ferry in place was too thin.

They maintained the vessel should have been held with a chain at least an inch thick Marine and Ports yesterday revealed the chain used to secure Bermudian measured ?th of an inch.

According to our sources, who asked not to be named for fear it would affect their relationship with Marine and Ports, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the vessel broke free.

"Anybody who knows anything about boats knew it would never stay there," said one.

"For that boat the chain should have been an inch and a quarter an inch at the very least.

"Also, from what I saw, there was no scope in the chain at all. It was almost straight up to the bow. That's why it broke.

"It's no mystery as to how it got free. It's an absolute joke."

Another agreed, saying: "The chain looked too thin to me.

"That boat has a very high windage. It really should have been an inch at least, or even a bit more substantial."

A third person said: "People were talking about it. We were waiting for it to break.

"[However] it's hard to be too critical of Marine and Ports. They have a lot of boats across the Island, and they do a pretty good job overall."

Marine and Ports did not respond to questions on whether it was concerned the chain used had been too thin.

The Bermudian washed up on rocks after it was torn from its storm mooring during Hurricane Igor. The vessel had been used to ferry cruise ship passengers between the Veendam and the Town of St. George.

No decision has been made on the provision of tender service to the cruise ship for her final two visits to the Island this year.