PARIS: French ferry workers could bring cross-Channel services to a standstill after calling a lightning strike this morning.
Staff aboard the MyFerryLink Berlioz ship decided to stage its stoppage over threats to the future of the business.
It is now berthed in Calais and threatening to blockade the French port with its sister ship The Rodin held outside the harbour, unable to get in to unload its passengers.
A rival operator said it was being ‘held to ransom’ by ‘disgruntled’ French workers.
The P&O Kent – currently in Calais – is unable to load and its sister ship The Burgundy is also held outside the port unable to disembark its passengers and freight.
MyFerryLink’s UK chief Robin Wilkins said: “There was a meeting on board the Berlioz this morning and the union is saying that it intends to block the Port of Calais until 6pm this evening.
The Rodin is being held outside the port until the Berlioz sails.”The ferry workers – many of whom have a stake in the company – are angry the UK competition authorities have ruled it must cease operations as it is in a partnership agreement with Eurotunnel.
Mr Wilkins added: “This doesn’t help matters. All avenues are being pursued to resolve this issue and we are confident we can do that. This is not good for our customers or our business and we very much regret it.”
It is likely MyFerryLink customers will be transferred to Eurotunnel.Chris Laming, spokesman for M&O Ferries, said: “We appear to be the innocent victims of the latest French industrial unrest.
It simply is not good enough for our customers to be held to ransom by disgruntled French ferry workers. We are putting pressure on the port authorities to reopen as quickly as possible.”
