The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority maintains new ferries will go into service as soon as possible. But, the boats remain tied up to a dock in Algiers,19 months after they arrived in New Orleans.
The future of the $10 million vessels just got more complicated.
A new detailed marine survey by the Elliott Bay Design Group, uncovered major problems with welding throughout the boats.
According inspection reports, obtained by WWL-TV, the welded metal joints are supposed to be continuous.
In many cases, inspectors found gaps in between the welds.
"This is glaring," Algiers Point VP Skip Gallagher said. "This is something that would be very, very difficult to overlook."
Gallagher read the reports and shared them with a naval engineer and welding inspector.
They gave him one example of how the lack of continuous welds can effect the integrity of the boats.
"The deck apparently meets in places but doesn't have a continuous weld across it," Gallagher said. "Even though there's a coating on it, the coating is not impermeable to water. So, water hits the deck and leaks through those spots to the next deck."
The report also points to other problems, including watertight doors that leak, engine room hatches that don't seal properly and a wheel chair ramp that isn't ADA compliant.
The new ferries were supposed to go back to boat builder Metal Shark late last year to correct the problems keeping the boats from passing Coast Guard inspection. That, never happened.
New Orleans City Councilmember Kristin Palmer who lives in Algiers says the RTA needs to resolve its issues with Metal Shark.
"We've all been working really hard," Palmer said. "We've all been advocating. Everyone wants to see these boats in the water, but they want to see safe boats in the water."
Gallagher said the report casts more doubt on whether the boats can ever be certified to carry passengers across the Mississippi River.
"I think I'm finally at the point that I can't imagine we'll ever see them in service," Gallagher said.
There is no new timetable for fixing the boats or presenting them for Coast Guard inspection.