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Strike and wind disrupt crossings | Strike and wind disrupt crossings |
(about 4 hours later) | |
SeaFrance crossings from Dover to Calais have been suspended for a third day as a strike by ferry officers in France over a pay dispute continues. | SeaFrance crossings from Dover to Calais have been suspended for a third day as a strike by ferry officers in France over a pay dispute continues. |
P&O Ferries between the Kent port and Calais are also severely delayed, along with the Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkirk, due to high winds. | |
It has led to traffic backlogs in Kent and the M20 has been closed coastbound to allow lorries to park. | It has led to traffic backlogs in Kent and the M20 has been closed coastbound to allow lorries to park. |
Phase two of Operation Stack is now in place between junctions eight and 12. | Phase two of Operation Stack is now in place between junctions eight and 12. |
Non-freight traffic is being diverted on to the A20, causing traffic delays and Kent Police advised drivers to avoid the area where possible. | Non-freight traffic is being diverted on to the A20, causing traffic delays and Kent Police advised drivers to avoid the area where possible. |
A spokeswoman said Operation Stack was expected to be in place for the rest of the weekend, with storm force winds possibly closing the Port of Dover. | |
Alternative crossings | Alternative crossings |
SeaFrance and P&O both advised customers to check with the ferry companies before travelling. | SeaFrance and P&O both advised customers to check with the ferry companies before travelling. |
A spokeswoman for SeaFrance said it was booking all passengers on to alternative crossings with other operators. | A spokeswoman for SeaFrance said it was booking all passengers on to alternative crossings with other operators. |
"SeaFrance is working to end the action as soon as possible and contact between the parties is ongoing," she said. | "SeaFrance is working to end the action as soon as possible and contact between the parties is ongoing," she said. |
"However the union demands amount to the equivalent of an 25% increase in salary costs over three years, which the company considers excessive and is not in a position to consider." | "However the union demands amount to the equivalent of an 25% increase in salary costs over three years, which the company considers excessive and is not in a position to consider." |
Eurotunnel advised travellers to allow extra time for journeys to the terminal because of the closure of the M20. | Eurotunnel advised travellers to allow extra time for journeys to the terminal because of the closure of the M20. |
It said it was experiencing extra traffic because of the ferry disruption and travellers were waiting up to 90 minutes at check-in and 90 minutes in the terminal. | It said it was experiencing extra traffic because of the ferry disruption and travellers were waiting up to 90 minutes at check-in and 90 minutes in the terminal. |
In north Kent, the A249 Sheppey Crossing bridge was also closed because of strong winds, with traffic being diverted via the Kingsferry Bridge. | In north Kent, the A249 Sheppey Crossing bridge was also closed because of strong winds, with traffic being diverted via the Kingsferry Bridge. |