Sonia not new

THE KEEL for the vessel now known as the MV Sonia was laid in 2001. However, for reasons unknown, work halted and it remained on bedding in the shipyard for a lengthy period before work resumed, informed sources told Sunday Newsday. After the vessel, originally registered as “Atsalakis 010,” was completed, it remained tied up for a lengthy period of time before it was put into service. The vessel, which has undergone several name changes since 2001, was used very briefly on a charter service in Naples, Italy, but that arrangement was severed after just a few days when the Sonia developed engine problems.

Since its debut on the inter-island service a few weeks ago, there have been at least two major incidents involving the Sonia. In the first incident, on January 8, the vessel slowed down considerably in open choppy waters, causing panic among passengers. This lasted for half-an-hour before the vessel resumed full speed. Port officials claimed there was a “minor technical problem” and denied the vessel had broken down. Port Authority Chairman Noel Garcia later told Sunday Newsday the problem had been due to a “computer glitch” and that such glitches could be expected from time to time because the vessel is highly computerised and virtually new and staff was still working out the system.

A week later the vessel broke down completely and remained off the service for several days. The official explanation was a problem with the pre-lube pump. Some local shipping experts have expressed concern about the fact that the vessel vibrates almost constantly while in motion. “Something is not right with the Sonia,” an informed source said.