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Latest Ferry NewsThe latest ferry news for January 2005 is below:
Port strike halts Channel ferriesDate: 27 Jan 2005Source: BBC News Dover's two largest ferry firms halted sailings on Thursday after a strike by French seamen closed Calais port. SeaFrance cancelled all sailings but P&O only stopped services when its freight ship was forced to turn back. The company was told it was too dangerous to try to land passengers or freight because pickets were lighting fires on the dock using old tyres. Kent Police closed the coastbound M20 between junctions 10 and 12 on Thursday afternoon for use as a lorry park. The rest of P&O's passenger fleet was still in Dover. 'Enormous costs' However, SpeedFerries and Norfolk Line, which operate between Dover and Dunkirk and Boulogne, said both routes were operating normally. The blockade in Calais by SeaFrance workers, which is over new ferry employment regulations being introduced in France, was lifted on Thursday evening. Tourists and lorries stranded by the dispute were being taken across the Channel via Eurotunnel shuttle services. Geoff Dossiter, external affairs director of the Kent-based Freight Transport Association, said the strikes, which were coming at monthly intervals, were causing "enormous costs and inconvenience" to companies, drivers and deliveries. 'Tiresome behaviour' He urged France "to get a grip on this tiresome and expensive behaviour and act to properly police its ports and allow the free flow of trade and passengers." The action also caused minor delays at other French ports, although Boulogne and Dunkirk were open as normal. Ferry services between Dover and Calais were initially disrupted on Wednesday by wildcat strike action and technical problems. The Dover Harbour Board said strikes in France are in response to laws being discussed in the French parliament. Strikes disrupt Channel crossingsDate: 26 Jan 2005Source: BBC News Ferries between Dover and Calais have been disrupted by wildcat strike action and technical problems. SeaFrance cancelled three sailings of the Cezanne on Wednesday, and also had problems with car deck access on the Rodin, the firm's flagship ferry. The Manet was stranded in Dover after industrial action by French seamen on Wednesday morning, the company said. The operator faces further problems on Thursday with the possibility of further port blockades in France. "SeaFrance regrets that a national strike by French seamen has resulted in an unforeseen stoppage by the SeaFrance Manet," a spokesman said on Wednesday. "In addition, this situation will almost certainly result in disruption of services on Thursday with possible blockades on the road systems around the ports due to national strike action." The Dover Harbour Board has said strikes planned in France are in response to laws being discussed in the French parliament on Thursday. A spokesman for the port said SeaFrance crews were likely to strike and P&O traffic could be affected. Brittany Ferries diverts new High-Speed ferry to take aid to tsunami stricken areasDate: 17 Jan 2005Source: Brittany Ferries Whilst Brittany Ferries is not normally to be found in the Andaman Sea, its new high-speed ferry, Normandie Express, will soon be in that part of the world delivering urgently needed medical equipment, water and sanitation supplies, shelters and non-perishable foods all provided by AusAID. Normandie Express departs next week on its extended voyage from Hobart in Tasmania to Portsmouth where it is expected to arrive at the end of February. David Longden, Brittany Ferries’ Managing Director comments: “Under normal circumstances a new vessel would be delivered empty, but we see this as a fine opportunity to be able to contribute to the Tsunami relief effort even though it involves a major diversion from its planned route. Brittany Ferries is very pleased to be able to work with the Australian Government in transporting aid in this way” Last P&O Portsmouth-Cherbourg SailingsDate: 13 Jan 2005Source: P&O Ferries Following employee consultation and as proposed in the Fundamental Business Review announcement on 28 September 2004, P&O Ferries is to close its Portsmouth-Cherbourg service. The last sailing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg will be at 23:45 on Thursday 13 January and the final sailing from Cherbourg to Portsmouth will be at 06:00 on Friday 14 January. The Pride of Cherbourg will then spend two days in Portsmouth being de-stored before refit in Poland and leaving the P&O Ferries fleet. P&O Le Havre service to run until the end of SummerDate: 13 Jan 2005Source: P&O Ferries Following the closure of their Portsmouth-Cherbourg service, P&O Ferries have underlined their commitment to continue to operate the Portsmouth-Le Havre service until the end of the summer 2005 season, pending the outcome of the Competition Commissions’ review of the proposals to transfer the service to Brittany Ferries. Stricken ferry refloated by tugsDate: 9 Jan 2005Source: BBC News A ferry which ran aground at Cairnryan Harbour in the west of Scotland has been refloated after being stuck for more than 30 hours. Two tugs hauled the P&O car ferry off the rocks with the help of the high tide at about 1100 GMT on Sunday. The ferry which had set sail from Larne, County Antrim, ran aground in winds of up to 100 miles per hour at about 0700 GMT on Saturday. Forty three passengers and 57 crew had to spend the night on the ferry. With one line tied to the bow and another to the stern, the tugs which had travelled down the River Clyde from Greenock managed to move the ferry into deeper waters. The operation to free the European Highlander took less than 30 minutes to complete. Once it was freed, the ferry had to sail about 100 metres before docking at the terminal. An initial inspection of the hull carried out by Maritime and Coastguard Agency divers found limited damage. The ferry has been taken to Liverpool for a full dry dock examination. A reduced service is operating between Larne and Cairnryan. 'Big squall' Samuel Esdale, 42, a haulage contractor from Randalstown in County Antrim, said he was out on deck when he noticed the boat was struggling to dock in a "big squall", but said there was no crash. "There were no bumps or bangs of any sort, nobody fell over, nothing moved and that was her for the rest of day - docked," he said. His wife Jayne said no-one on the ferry was panicking. "We were fed, had duvets and pillows - they were very good to us really," she said. But no alcohol, just for safety reasons in case they had to take us off another way." Martin O'Donnell, 23, a car breaker from Dungloe in County Donegal complained about the lack of information given to passengers by the ferry company. He said "a lot of us were very upset about the bar", which closed at 0600 GMT on Saturday, though he added: "It could have been a lot worse." A P&O spokeswoman said passengers were kept as comfortable as possible "given the circumstances". "There was food and drink available and they were kept informed. The ship captain himself came down to speak to the passengers individually," she said. She said the bar had been shut for "safety reasons". "Although there was no danger, we do that in emergency situations," she said. Seacat Troon Belfast service under reviewDate: 5 Jan 2005Source: BBC News The future of the SeaCat ferry service between Belfast and Troon in Scotland is to be reviewed after "unacceptable" losses over the past year. Management have blamed "competition from budget airlines and spiralling fuel costs" for losses. The service, which employs 41 in Belfast and four in Troon, currently only runs between March and October. It is understood that unless a way forward can be found sailings are unlikely to commence again in March. 'Immense change' Last year, the service carried 302,656 passengers and 72,876 vehicles. Diane Poole, general manager of SeaCat, said: "SeaCat were the pioneers of fast craft travel on the Irish Sea in 1992. "Since then the travel industry has undergone immense change. The General Consumer Council said that the announcement did "not come as a total surprise". Head of Consumer Affairs, Alan Walker, said: "This announcement will concern Northern Ireland travellers and all those connected with Seacat's Belfast to Troon service. "We will meet the company soon to discuss the detail and impact of the announcement." |
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