New KI ferry service out of action after engine trouble causes accident
THE new Kangaroo Island passenger ferry will be out of action until the spring after a relatively minor accident had a massive impact.
THE new Kangaroo Island passenger ferry will be out of action until the spring following a relatively minor berthing accident that destroyed a $10,000 propeller.
KI Connect’s catamaran was briefly out of control when an engine cut out at Cape Jervis about 6pm on Friday and strong winds pushed it on to rocks. No passengers were aboard at the time.
The company has been told a replacement for the specialised prop will not be available for up to six weeks. It has decided to cease operations for the rest of the low-demand winter period so that it can also get to the bottom of the mystery engine fault, which is suspected to be linked to its electronic management system.
Business owner David Harris, who launched the one-vessel, passenger-only service in early June, told The Advertiser that the accident and lost trade would cost KI Connect “an enormous amount”.
He said most of his staff of 12 were casuals who would lose income, and islanders would temporarily lose access to a cheap, fast connection to the mainland, “but it’s just a setback … sh*t happens, unfortunately”.
Unlike the long-running Sealink ferry to the island, KI Connect’s $1.6 million vessel does not carry vehicles or freight and a one-way fare of $25 is about half that charged on the bigger vessel, which also takes longer to load and dock.
KI Connect had been scheduled to open in January, but the company was held up by a four-month approval process to dredge at Cape Jervis for berthing access. It then spent $210,000 to compete that work.
It also operates a car-rental service on Kangaroo Island and this will continue to run while the boat is under repair at American River.
