A THIRD attempt to transport two ferries from Galway took a new twist yesterday when a replacement ship brought in to transport them to Mauritius was detained.
The Thor Gitta, a 7,000-tonne cargo ship, was held at Galway docks yesterday as new complications arose in the effort to transport the two passenger ferries.
Capt Brian Sheridan, Galway harbour master, confirmed yesterday evening that the vessel had been detained at lunchtime on the instructions of the admiralty marshal, a High Court judge, acting under maritime law.
A ship’s keeper has been placed on board the vessel by the Revenue Commissioners until the matters have been resolved. It was unclear when this would be.
The two Aran islands ferries bound for Mauritius, Clann na nOileáinand Clann Eagle 1, were expected to be loaded in Galway docks yesterday as investigations conclude into the latest incident involving the boats last week.
On Thursday last week the Clann na nOileáinplunged 40ft as it was being hoisted on to the Thor Gittain Galway docks.