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Ferry passengers stranded amid Calais strike action | Ferry passengers stranded amid Calais strike action |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of ferry passengers are stranded on both sides of the Channel as port workers in Calais stage strike action for the second time in a week. | Thousands of ferry passengers are stranded on both sides of the Channel as port workers in Calais stage strike action for the second time in a week. |
The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday over the sale of the company's ferries to rival DFDS Seaways. | The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday over the sale of the company's ferries to rival DFDS Seaways. |
Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill, but services to Dunkirk are operating as normal. | Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill, but services to Dunkirk are operating as normal. |
The boss of P&O Ferries said security at Calais had been "abandoned" leaving passengers "caught in the middle". | |
Also, passengers using the Channel Tunnel are subject to delays following an earlier incident, Eurotunnel said. | Also, passengers using the Channel Tunnel are subject to delays following an earlier incident, Eurotunnel said. |
Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action. | Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action. |
Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2. | Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2. |
Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators. | Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators. |
A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. | A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. |
The current strike action is expected to continue until Thursday, when DFDS officially takes over the MyFerryLink service. | The current strike action is expected to continue until Thursday, when DFDS officially takes over the MyFerryLink service. |
Helen Deeble, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "Through no fault of their own, our passengers are caught in the middle of an industrial relations battle that has been caused by Eurotunnel. | |
"This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities." | |
Calais security 'abandoned' | |
She said the company's staff had been "doing their best" to keep passengers supplied with food and water. | |
"Let me be clear, the buck stops with the French Government. They have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais," Ms Deeble said. | |
"When is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely?" | |
She said the industrial action was putting thousands of jobs at risk. | |
On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra. | On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra. |
Speaking afterwards, he said: "We're looking at the situation and working with the French government." | Speaking afterwards, he said: "We're looking at the situation and working with the French government." |
Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. | Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. |
Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. | Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. |
Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
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