Shelves empty as too rough for Alderney boat
ROUGH winter weather has prevented Alderney’s lifeline vessel from docking, leaving supermarket shelves empty.
MV Trinity has also been disrupted this week by a rope getting trapped in a bow thruster, with Guernsey Harbour divers removing it so she could sail for the northern island on Thursday night.
She was last in Alderney on 3 February.
MV Trinity was yesterday anchored off France sheltering.
‘Sadly, the weather hasn’t abated and there is a three-metre swell and easterly wind off the French coast,’ said Bruno Kay-Mouat, Alderney Shipping general manager.
‘They are just at anchor and it is very rough.’
Plans were in place to sail this morning.
‘We are optimistic that we will be able to get it in as soon as possible to get back on schedule.’
Alderney representative in the States of Guernsey, Steve Roberts, believes the supply issues have got worse this year and wants to know why.
‘Alderney Shipping has served us well for years and years,’ said Mr Roberts.
‘It seems to have been worse this year than other years, so I feel we need to dig a little deeper and have called for an enquiry locally to see what the problem is.
‘All I want to know is if it’s legislation, a new boat, or anything else so that we can sit and talk about it.’
Shops are losing money and residents cannot buy food, so islanders have been contacting him with their concerns.
‘If there is a problem, there must be a reason why and we need to fix that reason. Alderney can’t go on with no connectivity.’
Aurigny has discussed the potential to re-purpose a Dornier and remove its seats to become an emergency freighter.
‘It would be a back-up and would make one heck of a difference. I was really pleased to hear that news from Aurigny’s new management.’
