LEGAL action on the Floating Bridge has been delayed — due to Covid-19.

In an update about the troubled vessel at last night's (Tuesday) corporate scrutiny committee, Isle of Wight Council leader Dave Stewart said a new date for the case has yet to be set.

The case was due to be heard on January 25 but was deferred for at least three weeks due to Covid and other health issues which have impacted 'several' representatives from one of the parties involved in the mediation.

A 'substantial claim' has been submitted by the council for all of the performance issues the Floating Bridge 6 has faced since it was put in the water in May 2017, with the vessel, at the moment, being frequently taken out of service for repairs.

A council report from September last year first mentioned the authority had taken pre-action procedures, as set out in its contracts, with the builder and designer of Floating Bridge 6.

The council said it considers all the problems the vessel suffered 'are a result of the failure of the two companies ... to comply with the council's requirements'.

Court proceedings have also not been ruled out if the discussions do not conclude with a 'satisfactory' remedy for the losses suffered.

Not a lot has been said about the proceedings, including the council's potential fix to the vessel's problems (side thrusters), as it is all subject to the legal action.

The most significant issue with the vessel, according to council officers, is its ability to achieve the desired clearance over the chains at certain tides.