[Peetwo]

TICK TOCK goes the Transdev/TfNSW/OTSI/AMSA doomsday clock??

Via FB:

Chris (Legend) Cowper
1 h  ·

“Fairlight” has another CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE.

Chinese built, 400 passenger, 22 knot, Gen II Emerald, “Fairlight” as purchased by French owned Company, Transdev, who has been contracted by the NSW Liberal Government to operate the Sydney Ferry network in a safe and timely fashion, this evening had another catastrophic steering failure.

Although details are a little sketchy at the moment, I understand she was running at her maximum after Sunset service speed of 20 knots when she suddenly and uncontrollably dived hard to port.

Crews have withdrawn “Fairlight” from service.

“Fairlight” has had many steering failures.

Several have been what I call “catastrophic”.

Before tonight her most recent steering failure was only 8 days ago!

In Circular Quay and once again at night.

Her failure on the evening of Saturday 11th March occurred when her Master was turning around in the Quay to head to Manly, with passengers.

Both her rudders went hard over.

The Port one to Starboard and the Starboard one to Port.

Her extremely competent Engineer went down to the Steering Flats to check if the rudders had in fact, both gone hard over or to ascertain if it was a Rudder Angle Indicator fault.

Both rudders were hard over.

The Engineer re-set the Breaker (switch) labelled Steering RAI. (RAI=Rudder Angle Indicator)

His Starboard rudder now worked.

He could not re-set the port rudder.

Unknown to him, on the Chinese built Emeralds, the Port Rudder breaker was labelled “NMEA2K”

Could anyone, in their wildest dreams, even imagine MMEA2K meant Port Rudder”?

Amazingly, both Port and Starboard Rudder Breakers have now been re-labelled.

The Gen II’s have been on the run for over 2 years.

Did Transdev Management apologise to the Crew for putting their Careers and passengers lives at risk?

No.

Did Transdev try to blame the Engineer and pressure him and the Master to jump on another vessel before they could properly attempt to fault find, or even to fill in the appropriate paperwork?

Yes.

Some readers might ask why the Engineer didn’t shut down all of his 24 volt system in an attempt to re-boot things.

In doing that he risked drifting around Circular Quay at night without any Navigation Lights, VHF Radio, AIS, Radar, Whistle or VDRS etc, etc.

All 3 Gen II Emeralds should be withdrawn from service before fatalities occur.

Maybe this time AMSA, OTSI and Transport for NSW will show they have some balls.

Us Taxpaying voters are paying their wages.

They do have the legislative authority.

Transdev’s contract is up for review this year.

Whoever is in Government should get rid of them.

Just In: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/new-...wWtKeoVUBU

MTF...P2