Transportation Minister Fred Hutton says while a $300,000 ferry thruster bought in 2018 was never used in full, parts of it have been utilized in the ferry fleet.

Information about the thruster was uncovered through access to information by CBC.

The information from the comptroller general indicates that the part is only a fit for the Beaumont Hamel, unless significant modifications are made.

Having no use for the part after it was purchased, the report states that it was stored in a local warehouse.

Hutton says the purchase predates his time in government, but he cites a line in the report saying there was a change in senior management in the department around the time of the situation.

Hutton says improvements have been made in the department to ensure something similar does not happen again.

According to Hutton, the ferry thruster was not simply left to collect dust in a government warehouse.

He says parts of it have been used in repairs to other ships, though the thruster itself is unattached.