Government fast ferry Resolute has accumulated over $150,000 in unscheduled maintenance and repairs costs in the past eight years, announced Transport Minister Terry Lister yesterday.The unscheduled costs went towards removing and replacing two main engines, replacing a turbo charger and fresh water and sea water pump after they had failed.Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr Lister detailed problems encountered with the Department of Marine and Ports’ six catamaran ferries over their three- to nine-year lifespan.The most hefty unscheduled maintenance and repair costs went to the Resolute, which since its delivery in May 2002 by shipping company Gladding Hearn Shipbuilders, had amassed $151,863 in repairs.Mr Lister detailed the mechanical problems of each ferry yesterday while answering parliamentary questions posed by Shadow Transport Minister Charles Swan.He presented MPs with data which showed the Department had spent more than $1.5 million on the fast ferries, including both planned and unscheduled maintenance and repairs.Mr Lister said there was no intention to sell the vessels until they had reached their full lifespan. “The ferries are constructed for a 20-year service life and there are no plans to sell any of the fast ferries before the end of the estimated useful life of their hulls.“As stated main engines are replaced over the course of a vessel’s life in service,” said Mr Lister.His comments come two months after ferry staff downed tools in a dispute allegedly over maintenance issues on the vessels.The data showed the Serenity, which was delivered in November 2001, had accumulated $55,540 in unscheduled costs.While newer ferry Warbaby Fox, constructed by Derektor Shipyard, in Connecticut, and delivered to the Island in September 2006, had more than $32,000 in ad hoc repairs.Mr Lister said the problems included failed fresh water and sea water pumps.There was also a need to replace some exhaust manifold diffusers on both the starboard and port engines and failed main engines which needed to be removed and replaced with reconditioned parts.Both foil assisted catamarans, the Tempest and Venturilla, delivered in August 2004 from North West Bay Shipbuilders in Tasmania, encountered problems with their cylinder ram and drive shaft seals on all four water jet units, said Mr Lister.And some ferries had their cooling water temperature apparatus replaced in full or encountered power assembly failures, which needed on site repairs.Materials which could not be found on-Island included all main engine and auxiliary machinery components and parts, navigational and electronic equipment, windows, doors and seat covers.Meanwhile, there were some services that had to be done overseas including the complete overhaul of main engines and certified product training for mechanical staff.He said: “The Department’s maintenance documentation and records do not include every specific mechanical item that has been repaired over the course of each vessel’s life.”