Third bid to transfer ferries fails

A THIRD attempt to transport two ferries from Galway took a new twist yesterday when a replacement ship brought in to transport them to Mauritius was placed under arrest.

The Thor Gitta, a 7,000 tonne cargo ship, was placed under arrest at Galway docks as complications arose with efforts to transport two passenger ferries.

Captain Brian Sheridan, Galway harbour master, confirmed yesterday evening that the vessel had been arrested at lunchtime on the instructions of the admiralty marshal, a High Court judge, acting under maritime law.

A ship’s keeper has been placed on board the vessel by the Revenue Commissioners until the outstanding matters have been resolved.

It is unclear when the matters, described at “legal and insurance” issues will be sorted out or the passenger ferries can be transported.

The two Aran islands ferries bound for Mauritius — Clann na nOileain and Clann Eagle 1 — were expected to be loaded in Galway docks yesterday as investigations conclude into the latest incident involving the boats last week.

Last week the Clann na nOileain plunged 40 feet as it was being hoisted on to the Thoir Gitta, in Galway docks.

Three workers suffered minor injuries in the incident.

A week earlier the Pantanal, a 120-metre cargo vessel, was damaged after it went aground on rocks in storm close to Rossaveal in Connemara after it arrived in Ireland to transport the ferries.

Those incidents are being investigated by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.