The Saturday ferry to the north bank has been cancelled again and again this autumn, and the notices on the jetty have stopped giving reasons. We spent a week finding out why.
A short crew
The ferry needs a qualified skipper and a deckhand on every crossing. The operator has fewer skippers than the timetable needs, and the weekday commuter sailings take priority. When someone is ill or on holiday, Saturday is the first day to go.
An ageing boat
The boat is older than most of its passengers. Its engine is serviced on the quay rather than in a yard, and parts have to be made to order. When it is out of the water there is no spare.
A timetable for a busier river
The Saturday timetable dates from the years when the fish market drew crowds to the north bank. The harbour master, who sets the sailings with the operator, says the timetable will be reviewed with the new contract. The council, which pays for the service, says a replacement boat is in its bid for transport funding.
What happens next
Until then, cancellations go up on the operator's website and the jetty board by eight on the morning of sailing. If the Saturday crossing matters to you, the harbour master has asked for letters before the contract is renewed in the spring.