Last night (Jan 20) the problem plagued Police Vessel PV Fortescue was leaking diesel fuel into Lindisfarne Bay.
Clarence Alderman Tony Mulder, a former Police Commander in charge of the Marine Police, inspected the vessel last night.
Although little fuel escaped through a crack in the welded seam, the leak appeared to be the result of yet another design flaw in the problem plagued vessel. It appears that the usual double skin between fuel and water is absent and the fuel tanks have been built directly onto the hull.
To date the focus has been on the questionable process by which the vessel was procured. “It is time the Minister answered some serious questions about the vessels design and the arrangements under which the Marine Architect was engaged” Ald Mulder said.
It is understood that the unusual terms of engaging a marine architect were not followed leaving no access to the professional indemnity insurance that would have avoided the continuing cost of keeping this vessel in service.
