内容摘要："The counter-pollution retrieval operation remains ongoing, with HM Coastguard and other specialist counter-pollution assets continuing to assist this response. This includes supporting local authorities who are leading the onshore response in both Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

"The counter-pollution retrieval operation remains ongoing, with HM Coastguard and other specialist counter-pollution assets continuing to assist this response. This includes supporting local authorities who are leading the onshore response in both Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

In one of his last updates, he revealed that 1,400 cables installed prior to nationalisation were too short to reach equipment. It later emerged that part of the problem was that control panels were moved during redesign work.Tim Hair left at the end of January 2022 having been paid nearly £2m for 595 days’ work.

When new boss David Tydeman took the helm, he found the design of the ships was still far from nailed down, more than six years after the contract was signed.His approach was to try to heal the long-broken relationship with CMAL, seconding one of their senior staff as project manager.With so much redesign work and the ship having been in the water for years, it was no longer just a newbuild but was also a repair and retrofit project.

Rusty prop shafts had to be renewed - and fitting all the LNG equipment into the ship's small machinery spaces proved difficult.Tydeman described the engineering challenges as

being built upriver in Glasgow.

Gradually the ships made progress - but at huge cost. As new problems were uncovered, the bill to complete them soared to about £300m.Although no date was confirmed, he said he had "no reason to doubt" that the first passengers would be using the terminal by the end of the month.

Situated at the Princes Half Tide Dock, which is about 800yds (730m) from the existing terminal at the city's Pier Head, the project was originally due to be completed in 2021.Mr Crookall said the government-owned ferry firm was "working towards opening as soon as possible" so that it would be "ready for the busy summer holiday period".

The facility had been "completed to the design and specification agreed by the department and the Steam Packet", he said.The minister confirmed works left to be finished included the installation of software and hardware, checking systems and X-ray machines, signage and other minor works, responsibility for which "lies with" the ferry firm.