The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is being accused of mismanaging the Bell Island ferry service after the Legionnaire was tied up for six days due to not having a full compliment over COVID concerns.

Ken Kavanaugh says the total cost of the ferry, after taxes and fees paid by residents, is somewhere in the ballpark of $65 million.

He calls it “mind-boggling” that there was no engineer available to operate the ferry.

Kavanaugh says with such a valuable asset just left sitting idle, cross-training between the operators of the Legionnaire and its counterpart the Flanders is necessary.

He says it’s ridiculous that the residents are left suffering, and he’s calling for action.

Kavanaugh wants an internal, full-scale investigation of the department to determine the extent of its mismanagement.

He says he does not blame crew members for what has happened, but says the way things have played out is unacceptable.