Problem-plagued Fogo ferry not a lemon, says Damen Shipyards

The province doesn't have a lemon on its hands in purchasingthebrand new Fogo-ChangeIslands ferry, according to the company that built the $50 million vessel, even though theMV Veteran has been plagued by a series of problems.

"No, you don't," saidJan vanHogerwou, North American Senior Executive forDamenShipyards, which built the Veteranin Romania.

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"I understand concerns when things break down, don't go perhaps how you had envisioned, but unfortunately in shipbuilding, these things happen,"vanHogerwou told the Central Morning Show.

The Veteran was brought to St. John's Feb. 1 for repairs to its starboard propulsion, the third time it's been out of service since arriving in the province inOctober.

There were other problems enroutetoNewfoundland and Labradorthat sent the vessel back to the shipyard inRomania for an engine replacement.

"Let this be absolutely clear. We will resolve the issues.We will always be there,not just during the warranty period,also long after the warranty period.," saidvanHogerwouin an interview Fridayfrom Damen's head office in the Netherlands.

He said Damen, a privately owned company, has more than 10,000 employees and builds 150 to 200 vessels a year.

"Our reputation is what causes our success. We will not jeopardizeour reputation," he said.

Parts problem

Van Hogerwou said in the latest case, "technical issues" caused the trouble, and the company has flown experts into St. John's to workon repairs.

"In this case we're talking about parts from A-1 manufacturers, and we areprobably the largest customers. and they will do anything to make sure we and our customers are satisfied," he said.

"These things happen. We're not talking about a series of cars that areproduced. These are custom built machines, very complex ships, with an enormous amount ofequipment, mechanical and electrical."

Damen is building a second ferry, the MV Legionnaire, for the Bell Island run. Van Hogerwousaidboth vessels are "very well designed, very well built by a very first-class shipyard."

He acknowledged the company feels "under the gun" because the Veteran serves the public.

"It's the parts that we get from absolute first class manufacturers with the best world wide reputationthat have failed so far, and it's unfortunate, but that happens," he said.

"We'veseen better, We've seen worse."