State ferry service to resume

AUGUSTA — The ferry Margaret Chase Smith will be back in service between Lincolnville and Islesboro by Memorial Day despite the need for unanticipated engine repairs, according to maine State Ferry Service Mananger Almer L. Dinsmore.

“When we took the Smith out of service on April 27, we expected to do some routine spring maintenance and undergo a U.S. Coast Guard inspection,” Dinsmore said. “We passed the inspection with flying colors. But during the routine maintenance work, we discovered excessive wear on the main engines.”

Because the wear seemed premature, Dinsmore said he then called in technicians from Catepillar, which manufactured the engines. “After inspecting the engines, they agreed that the excessive wear was caused by a problem in the manufacturing process. They further agreed to pay the cost of the majority of the repairs, which they recommended be done immediately to prevent further damage.”

Those repairs are being made, and the Smith should be back in service by the traditionally busy holiday weekend, Dinsmore said. “The good news is that some of the work we’re doing now will shorten the amount of times we’ll need when we take her out of service next fall for more scheduled work,” he said.

“There is no good time to take a ferry out of service for repairs, but proper maintenance is essential if we’re going to maintain reliable service over the long term,” Dinsmore said.

Until the 30-car Smith is returned to service, Lincolnville-Islesboro will be served by the 12-car Everett Libby, which underwent extensive repairs last winter. “When the Smith comes back on line, the Libby will return to its nromal Bass Harbor-Swans Island run,” Dinsmore said.

“We’ve had some unexpected problems the past few months trying to meet increasing demands for service with an aging fleet, but the long-term future looks brighter,” Dinsmore said, pointing to the expected arrival of a new 17-car ferry in 1991.

“That, and the anticipated 1992 arrival of another new ferry, will greatly improve the situation. The voters approved the bonds for these vessels last fall and several Maine shipyards have expressed interest in bidding on the construction of them,” Dinsmore said. “We anticipate putting both new ferries out to bid later this month.”