Don't blame us for Rapide's breakdown, says manufacturer

OVERLOADING the engines rather than a misassembled gearbox has led to recent problems with the Condor Rapide, the German manufacturer has claimed.

Renk AG manufactured the gearboxes for the Express, Vitesse and Rapide catamarans in 1997 and 1998 in Australia, and has helped to maintain them since.

Last week, Condor managing director Simon Edsall said that the problems with the Rapide came down to the gearbox being misassembled by Renk in 2010.

However, Renk general marine manager Franz Hoppe has rejected this, saying it had warned Condor that the operator was overworking its ferries.

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