CALAIS: Protesting French ferry workers are blockading the port of Calais by occupying and damaging two cross-Channel ferries.
According to reports, crew members have caused damage inside the Berlioz and Rodin ferries which are berthed in the French port. They got on board by using emergency craft. It is not known how many MyFerryLink staff involved.
The continued disruption – over job losses – is threatening to cause disruption – and with the summer holidays starting next week, this could cause untold misery to holidaymakers.
A meeting of the French transport minister, DFDS, Eurotunnel and militant maritime unions are due to take place today to ‘thrash out’ a deal to end the chaos.
Danish operator DFDS has struck a deal with Eurotunnel – which own the MyFerryLink ships – to lease the ferries but have been unable to take delivery of them due to the union blockade. There have been reports of the car decks of the Belioz and Rodin ships being covered in hydraulic fluid, rendering them unseaworthy.
The action has cut the port capacity by around 25 per cent, meaning the Eurotunnel has to take up the slack, but it cannot cope with the extra demand, especially as migrants are making nightly attempts to cross into Britain.
Two thirds of the MyFerryLink staff of 600 could lose their jobs. Managing director Robin Wilkins said: “The ships are occupied by MyFerryLink staff and are unable to be delivered to DFDS. When you have got 600 workers who are not likely to find jobs in an area of high unemployment, temperatures are likely to run high.
“I understand there has been some damage to the ships which is not going to help in their speedy deployment. I understand the evacuation slides have been deployed which would need to be put right.
“I understand they are using emergency life boat crafts to move people to the ships. They are not using the normal in and out access.”
