Costs going up on MV Gallipoli repairs after unexpected problems arise

The unexpected discovery of deteriorated steel on the MV Gallipoli means the vehicle and passenger ferry will be out of service longer than originally planned, and repair costs are also going up.

The 47-metre Gallipoliwas built in 1986 and is assigned to the Ramea-Grey River-Burgeo ferry service on the south coast, but came out ofservice Sept. 5 to begin a 90-day scheduled refit at Burry's Shipyard in Clarenville.

The original contract was for work such as inspections, painting, steel repairs and other routine maintenance valued at $1.57 million

But when the vessel was placed in dry dock, more problems were discovered, according to the Department of Transportation and Works.

In a statement, a department spokesperson said steel deterioration was discovered in the vessel's stacks, bilge and tank areas.

The problem is serious enough that the department is not expecting the vessel to return to service until April, four months later than planned.

That means the smaller MV Sound of Islay will continue to serve the roughly 450 residents of Ramea and Grey River.

The department said it's not uncommon for a contractor to uncover additional problems when a vessel is placed in drydock.

• Show me the money: South coast woman questions search for cheaper ferries

So how much will this extra work cost?

Both sides are in talks to set a price that is "fair toBurry's and to taxpayers," a spokesperson wrote in a statement to CBC News.

Last year, the Ramea-GreyRiver-Burgeoferry service cost the province nearly $3.7 million to operate, at a subsidy rate of 95.4 per cent.

It carried just under 20,000 passengers and roughly 8,300 vehicles.

Attempts to arrangean interview with Transportation and Works Minister Steve Crocker were not successful.