Water Buses off duty
        Occasionally the Water buses require maintenance to keep them up to the high standards set by the MCA. This sometimes means that the boats require lifting out of the water! A special boat hoist in Penarth marina is used for this purpose.

Pictured here 'Cygnet' approaches the hoist, and is carefully manoeuvred over the orange lifting straps.
'Cygnet' appears to be hovering as she is lifted high out of the water, great care is taken by the hoist operator to keep her level      
        Safe and sound on dry land 'Cygnet' is lowered onto wooden blocks so that maintenance work can commence.
One of the  problems sometimes encountered in Cardiff Bay is old floating ropes, these can be discarded from other vessels or can drift in to the Bay from either of the two rivers. Occasionally these can become caught on the propeller causing unwanted vibrations or a lack in performance

Pictured here a member of Penarth Sub-Aqua Club prepares to dive beneath 'Cygnet' to investigate a possible rope fouling

      
        A few minutes later the diver emerges with a bundle of orange and blue nylon rope that, as suspected had got caught around the propeller.
Fortunately this problem is a rare one, but crews keep a constant look out for such hazards.
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