Calais blockade leaves thousands of ferry passengers stranded
Cross-channel ferry services have reopened following a fresh blockade at the Port of Calais which disrupted the bank holiday journeys of thousands of passengers.
Ferry service operators P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways both said services have resumed, however some are still subject to delays.
Passengers at the ports of both Dover and Calais were left stranded for hours on Sunday night when movements at the French port were suspended because of the protests.
The industrial action was carried out by disgruntled former staff of the now dissolved MyFerryLink, who used lifeboats to block ships from docking.
Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart said she regretted that the port had been taken “hostage”.
In the early hours of Monday morning DFDS Seaways tweeted: “Calais port has now reopened, normal service has resumed. All services are operating to the advertised scheduled with space available.”
Calais port has now reopened, normal service has resumed.
— DFDS UK & IRE Updates (@DFDSUKUpdates) August 30, 2015
All services are operating to the advertised scheduled with space available.
P&O Ferries added: “Dover/Calais Services are running within 60 minutes of schedule with the exception of the D/C 10h15 & C/D 13h25 that are currently with delays of up to 80 minutes. Please check in as normal”
[Dover/Calais] Services are running within 60 minutes of schedule with the exception of the D/C 10h15 & C/D 13h25 that are currently [1/2]
— P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) August 31, 2015
With delays of up to 80 minutes. Please check in as normal [2/2]
— P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) August 31, 2015
Nicholas Bernier, a passenger on a ferry heading to France, earlier told the BBC the service he was travelling on last night was stuck about two miles from Calais.
He said: “I’m roughly about two miles from the Port of Calais. We’ve got about three ferries standing still in front of us and what we were told is that the port is blocked by two lifeboats.”
Richard Hill, in Calais, said his ferry was unable to leave the port.
“Authorities are saying to the captain that they cannot sail past the lifeboats. We are stuck on the ferry along with 2,000 others, luckily we have a seat. The seating is very limited now and people are starting to get weary.”
The workers were reportedly protesting over 600 potential job losses caused by the sale of a ferry service between Dover and Calais – MyFerryLink.
Former employees at MyFerryLink have also orchestrated wildcat strikes before this summer, causing delays and cancellations for British holidaymakers looking to cross the Channel.
The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, is due to visit the port today, on what is already one of the busiest days of the year because of the British bank holiday.
The strike action has also coincided with the growing migrant crisis in Calais, which has caused travel chaos all summer.
