ferries - EU question
Discussion
greygoose said:
It would be problematic for the Dover-Calais ferries as the immigration controls for the UK are in Calais, unless they have some emergency controls they can put in at Dover at short notice, but I think they demolished them all some years ago.
That’s due to a bilateral agreement between France and the U.K. iirc Nothing to do with the EU so shouldn’t change
In theory, P&O could run two of their older / smaller vessels to Ostend (they did berthing trials there a couple of years or so back) or Zeebrugge as they were designed to operate to there originally. I think there are still immigration controls in Zeebrugge although Ostend hasn't seen any ferries for a few years now so that wouldn't be viable without significant issues.
In reality, probably not though.
But Dover - Spain is somewhat unlikely.
In reality, probably not though.
But Dover - Spain is somewhat unlikely.
Edited by 4F6 on Saturday 5th December 12:00
Largely that the current P&O / DFDS Dover fleet was purpose built for the Dover - Calais route which makes them largely unsuitable.
There's no cabin capacity of any significance on the Dover fleet and as Dover is mainly accompanied freight and car/passengers (rather than unaccompanied trailers) and for a 30 hour sailing from Dover - Bilbao or similar you'd be wanting a good amount of cabins.
They were also designed to fit the berth / linkspans at Dover and for double deck loading without internal ramps whereas (I think) the Spanish ports use single deck loading meaning that freight could only load onto the main deck.
All that could be modified - they could have internal ramps fitted and additional cabins but it seems very unlikely, not to mention expensive.
Brittany Ferries could operate some of their Portsmouth / France fleet to Spain instead but given the nature of their ownership structure, to move away from serving Normandy / Breton ports would be unlikely as anything much more than a one off.
Plus, given that this is largely driven by freight operators, how many would actually want to have to sail via Spain with the extra expense in fuel / drivers hours / ferry cost that would entail.
There's no cabin capacity of any significance on the Dover fleet and as Dover is mainly accompanied freight and car/passengers (rather than unaccompanied trailers) and for a 30 hour sailing from Dover - Bilbao or similar you'd be wanting a good amount of cabins.
They were also designed to fit the berth / linkspans at Dover and for double deck loading without internal ramps whereas (I think) the Spanish ports use single deck loading meaning that freight could only load onto the main deck.
All that could be modified - they could have internal ramps fitted and additional cabins but it seems very unlikely, not to mention expensive.
Brittany Ferries could operate some of their Portsmouth / France fleet to Spain instead but given the nature of their ownership structure, to move away from serving Normandy / Breton ports would be unlikely as anything much more than a one off.
Plus, given that this is largely driven by freight operators, how many would actually want to have to sail via Spain with the extra expense in fuel / drivers hours / ferry cost that would entail.
Edited by 4F6 on Sunday 6th December 08:24
4F6 said:
Plus, given that this is largely driven by freight operators, how many would actually want to have to sail via Spain with the extra expense in fuel / drivers hours / ferry cost that would entail.
Much of the French ferry traffic is transit freight traffic n the way to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and so on.Edited by 4F6 on Sunday 6th December 08:24
If there are problems at some ports as was wondering how easily it would be to switch to other gateways to and from Europe.
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