Snapped rudder closes Harecastle Tunnel

THE rudder of the rescue boat at Harecastle Tunnel has snapped so it is not available in case it is required for a rescue.

This means the tunnel has to be closed as boats are not allowed through if no rescue boat is available, Keith Gudgin reports.

Not yet inspected

The boat now requires an urgent repair, but this is not yet known as not yet inspected, so there is no intimation when it will be repaired or when the tunnel will be reopened.

The Canal & River Trust is considering an alternative, but the rescue boat is specifically equipped for tunnel rescue.

It is not told of the condition of the failed rudder, why it broke or how it can be repaired.