Essential maintenance – what does it mean?

You will often see a social media message saying a ferry has been delayed for “essential maintenance”. The ferries are complex machines and require regular or planned maintenance, to keep the machinery operating correctly, an example being an oil change for a diesel engine. This type of maintenance is normally, and where possible, completed without disruption to the service.

The ferries can also suffer from unexpected defects, which can occur at any time and in the worst case, mean that a ferry has to be taken out of service for repair. There are over 1000 sensors on each ferry in addition to a strict regime of visual checks to ensure that any problem is identified and dealt with as soon as possible. Defects of this nature require ‘unplanned maintenance’.

With over 1290 crossings scheduled each week, all systems and machinery require servicing and preventative maintenance that can only be completed safely during daylight hours. These tasks are referred to as ‘Essential Maintenance’.