The much-anticipated publication of a review regarding the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge, which cost nearly £50,000, has experienced delays, but it might pave the way for a new ferry service between Cowes and East Cowes.

A comprehensive six-month-long investigation into the ‘two remaining issues‘ plaguing the Floating Bridge 6 concluded in December. Conducted by 3S Services, this review incurred a cost of £47,520 to the Isle of Wight Council. Although the findings have reached County Hall, they will not be immediately released to the public. Instead, they will be amalgamated with future plans for the service.

Earlier this year, Councillor Phil Jordan, the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, expressed his aspirations for a new, electric replacement for the Floating Bridge. In his resolutions for 2024, Cllr Jordan articulated his desire to unveil a novel strategy for delivering, sustaining, and enhancing the service, one that includes the introduction of a new vessel. He is actively seeking input and collaboration from industry professionals and engineering experts to formulate preliminary proposals for a service that would be “electrically powered.

Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday, Colin Rowland, the council’s community services director, emphasized the logic behind combining the report addressing existing problems with the one exploring future possibilities.

Floating Bridge 6 was brought into service in 2017 but has encountered numerous technical challenges, resulting in extended suspensions of service for weeks at a time