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Fast ferry is out of the water for repairs

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Photo by Tamell SimonsTime out for Warbaby Fox: The Government's ferry Warbaby Fox was put on the slip at Dockyard for maintenance work yesterday and will be out service for a week. A Government spokesman said the 350-passenger, 127ft long ferry will receive scheduled hull maintenance, including inspection and servicing of components that are normally submerged. The vessel's four propulsion waterjets will also be serviced.

Fast ferry Warbaby Fox is in dry-dock as she undergoes a week of repairs.The Government catamaran ferry, which is used in the East End, is currently having its hull and propulsion water jets repaired. The scheduled repairs will not affect any ferry services.The maintenance work comes only about a week after the Department of Marine and Ports announced it was axing the East End morning ferry service after its budget was slashed by more than $2 million.Warbaby Fox hit the headlines just over a year ago when she fell from dry-dock in Dockyard.Francis Richardson, director of Marine and Ports, said: “The Warbaby Fox was slipped on our marine cradle early yesterday to have our technical staff undertake scheduled hull maintenance which includes inspecting and servicing components that are normally submerged.“Our technical staff will also service the four propulsion water jets. The repairs will be completed in seven days.”Transport Minister Terry Lister announced at the end of last year that more than $32,000 had already been spent on repairs to Warbaby Fox, which was constructed by Derektor Shipyard, in Connecticut.The ferry was damaged in December 2009 when a marine cradle being used to lift her collapsed as she was hauled out of the water and the ferry crashed to the ground in dry-dock. In February 2007 Warbaby Fox suffered a broken main cabin window when she hit a massive wave near Fort St Catherine and in November 2006 she suffered minor damage after rough seas caused the vessel to smash into the dock in St George’s.The ferry was delivered to the Island in September 2006 and named after St David’s islander the late Charles Hilgrove Gawthorpe “Warbaby” Fox.The 127ft long vessel has a width of 32ft and weighs 100 metric tons. It carries up to 350 passengers.

Photo by Tamell SimonsTime out for Warbaby Fox: The Governmentís 350-passenger ferry Warbaby Fox get dry docked at Marine and Ports station in Dockyard for maintenance work.
Photo by Tamell SimonsTime out for Warbaby Fox: The Governmentís 350-passenger ferry Warbaby Fox get dry docked at Marine and Ports station in Dockyard for maintenance work.
Photo by Tamell SimonsTime out for Warbaby Fox: The Governmentís 350-passenger ferry Warbaby Fox get dry docked at Marine and Ports station in Dockyard for maintenance work.