Fogo Island ferry MV Veteran back in service Wednesday

The MV Veteran, which servicesFogo Island-Change Islands-Farewell, will be back in service Wednesday, July 6.

After months of investigating the ferry's problems, andseveral sea trials,DamenShipyardsand Rolls Royce havedetermined thata lack of lubrication of the bearings causedthe failure of the stern thrusters.

Jan vanHogerwou,DamenShipyards'manager USA & Canada for new buildings,and Al Hawkins, minister of transportation and works, held a technical briefing Monday afternoon announcing the vessel's return.

TheDamenorganization is truly sorry for the experience you're going through.-Jan vanHogerwou

On extra costs caused by theVeteran's breakdowns, van Hogerwou wouldn't commit to absorbing all costs at this point butsaid Damen Shipyards would "work something out" with the provincial government.

"The Damen organization is truly sorry for the experience you're going through," van Hogerwousaid as he apologized tothe residents affected by the ferry's problems.

The vessel's warranty has been extendedby one year, until December 2017, and all modifications made to theVeteran will also be made to its sister vessel, the MV Legionnaire.

Althoughthe ferry has been plagued with mechanical problems since it launched last year, Transportation Minister Hawkins said he hoped"the worst isbehind us."

"It's been a nightmare for travellers, and not onlyFogoIsland people, but anyone travelling toFogoto do business or anything," saidAndrewShea, mayor of the Town of Fogo.

"It's been a nightmare, but we're hoping the nightmare is over."