THE TILBURY FERRY will not be leaving from the state of the art £2.5 million Gravesend Town Pier pontoon.
Crew members are saying it is too dangerous, citing lighting problems but the decision to “jump pontoon” has left Kent County Council threatening to pull the contract.
G and T Ferry have gone back to the West Street Pier.
There may also be a problem as sources claim that the commercial vessels, the Balmoral, Waverley and Cambria may have priority using the pier.
Gravesham council have said the pontoon met all the regulated standards, including lighting, which was set by the Port of London Authority [PLA].
“The pontoon deck is illuminated by lights inside the outer handrail, which was approved by the PLA,” said a spokesman.
“The skipper should produce an assessment prior to operations on a pontoon.
YT has made attempts to contact the owner of G and T Ferry, John Potter but he had not returned our call at the time of publication.
