P&O ferry runs aground Calais (1 Viewer)

[snowdrops]

Wow ! Why did they even set off in this weather !!!!? Chunnel every time for us !!
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-42301100

 

[magicsurfbus]

Looks like it's inside the harbour to me - somebody needs to call for a dredger.

 

[Khizzie]

Well hope the winds die back by Tuesday. I am booked Portsmouth to Caen....

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[WillH]

Running aground on a soft bottom is the marine equivalent of kerbing your car, it's only when you hit something hard do you worry. They'll do an underwater inspection and all will be well.

 

[maison]

We usually use the Tunnel because of being able to pay with Tesco vouchers and the shorter crossing time is more dog friendly.

Last week we used DFDS instead. Delayed on the way out and the way back, expensive drinks etc. on board, longer crossing in rough weather. Back to the Tunnel next time.

 

[Khizzie]

Personally hate the4 hour drive to the tunnel via m4 ,m3 m25 etc .so always use ferries from portsmouth ,cost effective for me and much more enjoyable .not silly enough to buy alcoholic drinks on board and food is cheap and good ..just sometimes it can be a little lumpy and I hate watching people puke ,puts me of my dinner .lol

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[TerryL]

Been into and out of Calais harbour literally dozens of times and there's always a dredger at work somewhere in the port. There's also a long sandbank just outside the entrance - if you follow the routes the ferries take you can see where it is. Daft place to have a port but don't think there's anywhere better along that coast.

 

[injebreck99]

Bit like when the Steam Racket ferry hit the harbour wall in Douglas this year, you would have thought that they'd had enough practise by now!

 

[rosalan]

I am glad not to have been in the Tunnel with that big thing banging on the roof.

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[peterc10]

Running aground on a soft bottom is the marine equivalent of kerbing your car, .

Nowadays I can only dream of doing that .............

 

[cruiser]

No you are just soft in the head. LOL . @peterc10. Happy travels.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Running aground on a soft bottom is the marine equivalent of kerbing your car, it's only when you hit something hard do you worry. They'll do an underwater inspection and all will be well.

I heard it is leaking and has lost the engine room, can't always believe the false news on the BBC though.

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[WillH]

If it lost the engine room I should be very surprised, that would class it as a major maritime incident. Calais harbour has a mud bottom, not a problem to any Pride class vessel. Where did you hear about this as I have received no alerts concerning the event.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I saw it on a news site, but it might be an exageration , a leak somehow, it is supposed to have hit a ramp or something like a piling and then lost power against the wind, which was very high.
Out of service until further notice, it took a long time to get the passengers off again, I do not know if the vehicles are still on board though.

 

[WillH]

The information I have is that some hull damage has been sustained, possibly in the region of the engine room though the hull has not been breached and there has been no ingress of water. If there has been hull damage she will be out of service until this has been repaired.

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[TerryL]

Another good reason for using the Chunnel!

 

[nicholsong]

Another good reason for using the Chunnel!

I think the chunnel has had an equal amount of disasters, breakdowns, delays and strikes.

At least with ferries there are alternative routes and companies to switch to.

[Edit] Just seen this

Broken Link Removed

That is an example

Geoff

 

[jollyrodger]

I believe @scousebird was there at the time

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[TerryL]

Yes agree the tunnel does have it's share of problems - but only affected me just the once in literally dozens of crossings. Just lucky I suppose.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

They were keeping some trains half loaded because of toilet mafunction. A load of punters were complaing about being kept waiting for two hours whilst they tried to offload the waiting queue, The lorries are piling up on the M20 and Dover has the usual queue back to Folkestone. Might have cleared a bit but losingh a big P&O pride of Kent didn't help along with the shXXXy weather , and wind.

 

[scousebird]

I believe @scousebird was there at the time

Yes we were on the ferry due to sail after the grounded one so were stuck in Calais port for 4.5 hours before we could sail. We got free drinks very quickly and then a free meal after about 4 hours. We eventually sailed then had a fairly rough crossing (although we have been on worse). By the time we got home (15 minute drive from Dover) we had an apology email from P&O which was then followed by another email offering us either a refund for that leg of the journey or a free crossing within 12 months.

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[Polar bear]

Iff a ferry springs a leak it will probably get to its destination, if the tunnel springs a leak no survivors the morral is if you use the tunnel pack an aqualung.

 

[TCG]

Yes we were on the ferry due to sail after the grounded one so were stuck in Calais port for 4.5 hours before we could sail. We got free drinks very quickly and then a free meal after about 4 hours. We eventually sailed then had a fairly rough crossing (although we have been on worse). By the time we got home (15 minute drive from Dover) we had an apology email from P&O which was then followed by another email offering us either a refund for that leg of the journey or a free crossing within 12 months.

so fair play P&O did the right thing and looked after it's customers

 

[Duck Truck]

The ferries are designed to cope in that weather
Running aground probably was caused by the mud shifting in the heavy seas.
If they cancelled we would moan

Has someone forgotten the Channel tunnel fires
All modes of transport carry risks
and even sleeping in your bed has risks
Get on with life
Gives you something to chat about in the pub or on the aire

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[peterc10]

Has someone forgotten the Channel tunnel fires
All modes of transport carry risks
and even sleeping in your bed has risks

I agree about all modes of transport carry risk, as does just living.
But how many died in those fires when compared with the Spirit or Free Enterprise.

 

[Duck Truck]

Peter
As I said all modes of transport have risks
people have died in tunnels around the world
You pays your money and you takes your choice

 

[pjay]

Yes we were on the ferry due to sail after the grounded one so were stuck in Calais port for 4.5 hours before we could sail. We got free drinks very quickly and then a free meal after about 4 hours. We eventually sailed then had a fairly rough crossing (although we have been on worse). By the time we got home (15 minute drive from Dover) we had an apology email from P&O which was then followed by another email offering us either a refund for that leg of the journey or a free crossing within 12 months.

Good to hear. Well done P&O.

Pete

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[EuroTrotters]

Wow ! Why did they even set off in this weather !!!!? Chunnel every time for us !!
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-42301100

" !!!!? Chunnel every time for us !!"

I used to be a fan of the tunnel, but have not been for a long time.

 

[scousebird]

Just booked our free crossing for next June/July

 

[cruiser]

Going some where nice @scousebird . Happy travels Helen

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