Spare parts for island ferry
2010-01-22 15:05
Cape Town - The Robben Island Museum said on Friday it was forced to ask a
German company to urgently produce spare parts for its main ferry, the
Sikhululekile, because there were none available.
"There is just a massive shortage. It's incredible," museum spokesperson
Dennis Cruywagen said.
He said a new gearbox drive coupling was ordered on Thursday from German
manufacturer Vulcan and was expected to arrive in Cape Town next weekend.
It would be fitted on Monday February 1, and the Sikhululekile should be
back in operation the following day.
The three-year-old ferry was taken out of service on January 17.
"At the time the engineers in charge of repairs thought that the
gearbox drive coupling would be readily available in South Africa.
"However, after scouring South Africa and other countries,
they realised that there is currently no stock of the affected parts available."
Cruywagen said engineers were carrying out preventative maintenance work on
the ferry’s engines.
He said tours to Robben
Island had not been
cancelled as other ferries in the fleet were filling in for the Sikhululekile.
- SAPA
