More than $ 800,000 to maintain a ferry for seven months

QMI agency

Wednesday, 14 February, 2018 21:54

UPDATE
Wednesday, 14 February, 2018 21:56

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The ship “F.-A.-Gauthier”, which acts as a link between the cities of Matane, Baie-Comeau and Godbout, is expensive to the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) since it is no longer under warranty.

Following a request for access to information, VAT News has compiled for 813 682 $ of invoices for repair and maintenance, for the period from 1 January to 1 August 2017. It is an average of $ 116,000 per month, or almost $ 4,000 per day.

VAT News has sorted and compiled by less than 535 pages of invoices showing that several repairs were carried out on the vessel, launched in 2014. Among these, the STQ has paid 20 286 $ to replace 116 of the chairs in the cafeteria, 22 625 $ to redo the floor of the room and the captain’s cabin with a linoleum imitation wood, 45 738 $ to repair an elevator in order to make it conform to quebec standards and 3 443 $ to replace a door handle of the engine room.

STQ believes that these expenses are appropriate in the circumstances and that it is premature to speak of an abnormal situation. It is necessary to consider the maintenance costs of the “F.-A.-Gauthier” on at least five to six full years of operation before establishing a realistic average, has assured the Company.

The provincial agency has added that he agreed with the principles of sound management of public funds. According to the STQ, the costs of repair and maintenance are impressive, but reflect those of a shipowner.