CLARENVILLE, N.L. — On Friday, June 1, the M.V. Gallipoli looked on from its spot at the dock at Burry’s Shipyard as the Norton Galatea was pulled on the slipway onto the functioning dry dock for an inspection.
The Gallipoli — which had not been worked on since the slipway malfunctioned on Feb. 12 — is set to be transported to St. John’s to have repairs completed by Newdock.
However, on Friday afternoon, June 1 as the now-repaired slipway pulled the Norton Galatea in, the damage for Burry’s Shipyard and its employees had already been done.
In an interview with Burry Group president Glenn Burry and other members of management, they told The Packet the process has had a direct detrimental effect on their business, reputation, employees and, as a result, the community as a whole.
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The work for the M.V. Gallipoli began in Clarenville in September of last year. On Feb. 12, because the Gallipoli was in an incorrect position when being pulled out of the water, the weight caused a beam to deflect. Burry says there was no safety issue with the slip. They also provided The Packet with a copy of the certification which stated it is approved for use for up to 650 tonnes.
Following the incident with the slip, Burry says they were in the process of taking the Gallipoli out of the structure when a government engineer on site called occupational health and safety to issue a stop work order.
The Gallipoli remained where it was until March 11, when it was pulled out of the cradle. They say this resulted in a large expense to arrange a vessel to pull it out, and even further damage to the Gallipoli during the time it was left there, while they could’ve easily removed it themselves.
They add that, while a large majority of the remaining work on the vessel could’ve been completed while it remained at the dock after having been removed from the slipway, the stop work order remained and the Gallipoli has not been touched in the 12-weeks since that date.
In the days leading up to May 7, they were informed about the province’s decision to cancel the contract with the shipyard.
This came as a complete shock, as they say they had kept costs at a minimum in the interim, while discussing potential timelines with government engineers and hired an new project manager for the job from a consulting company outside Burry’s.
In the period following the slipway incident, management at Burry’s met with a government engineer from Seashore about the schedule going forward. They agreed they had a positive outlook after that period, during which the engineer came to the site and said everything looked good.
“We figured we had it all sorted out,” said Burry.
However, when the letter arrived, informing them of the government’s ultimate decision, they say the same engineer stated he “had doubts” about the ability to finish the project.
They were given no specific reasons.
The company says costs add up during this period of not being able to accept new work.
“It was crippling to the operation of the shipyard,” said Burry’s business development manager and media spokesman Bob Kennedy.
At peak times, Burry’s Shipyard employs about 100 people. On Monday, June 4, there will only be five workers in the yard.
Burry’s Shipyard represents about $5 million in the local economy, through both salaries and other business, according to Kennedy.
Now, after originally planning to have the Gallipoli finished in mid-July, even with the delays of the slipway, the province will move the vessel to St. John’s to restart the project and work towards a planned end date of October, they say.
“And I think it’s terrible that these good people of Ramea have to suffer (without a ferry) like this,” Burry said.
“This has soiled the reputation of the shipyard and a good company,” he said, adding the entire ordeal has made the situation challenging to see the way forward, to say the least.
Burry told The Packet, through the struggles, he was glad to have the local MHA go to bat for them every step of the way.
“I want to thank Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway for all his efforts (through the process),” Burry says. “He worked tirelessly for his constituents.”
Burry added thanks to other concerned political figures, both in government and the opposition, who have reached out concerning the matter.
The Packet contacted the Department of Transportation and Works for comment, and while they did respond, they will provide a response to questions next week.
