Technical stops of the Morbihan islands' ferries
25 January 2022
Technical stops of the ferries serving the islands off the Gulf of Morbihan: Groix, Houat, Hoëdic, and Belle-Île-en-Mer take place every year.
Technical stops ensure the smooth operation of the vessels
They are carried out to improve passenger comfort on board, but above all to comply with strict operating and safety regulations (hull and engine certifications by Bureau Veritas).
Just like mandatory vehicle inspections every two years, each vessel sailing to the islands of Morbihan undergoes an annual inspection. Every five years, the inspection is more thorough, including checks such as hull thickness measurements, cardeck testing for ferries, or internal inspections of diesel tank capacities.
Onboard personnel are involved in some maintenance tasks during the technical stop (oil changes, cleaning, painting, etc.). They ensure that work is carried out according to manufacturer recommendations, supply parts if needed, and monitor the progress of the operations to ensure they are completed on time and in compliance with safety rules. The crew supervises up to 20 subcontracting companies per technical stop.
A technical stop usually lasts between 3 and 4 weeks, sometimes 5. During this period, the vessel cannot operate its regular daily crossings.
