Pont aven Brittany Ferries broken rudder.

[Mr porky]

We have just had to change our plans coming home from Santander on the pont aven 10th June.
Broken rudder ship is out of action till at least the 14th June so check your emails if your booked on this ship.
we are now coming back from st malo. Brushing up on my french Mange tout mange tout.

 

[filopastry]

Avey vous un cuppa ??? very important

 

[Kenp]

Update from BF;
Pont-Aven - Latest news
4 June 2019

As we previously advised, Pont-Aven is not expected to re-enter service before 14 June. We continue to offer our apologies to all passengers affected by cancellation of services. Some passengers have asked why the repairs are taking so long and we hope the following will help.

The problem with Pont-Aven’s starboard side steering gear was first identified on the approach to Roscoff on the morning of 17 May. A loss of oil pressure had reduced rudder efficiency.

The ship was immediately taken out of service and sailed to the shipyard in Brest for investigations that day. Originally our technical teams hoped the loss of pressure might have been caused by the failure of something that would merely require the unit to be removed and a part replaced. However, the investigation pointed to a far more serious issue that would take longer to resolve.

Parts are being manufactured, fitted and rigorously tested and we’re confident that all is proceeding as quickly as possible without compromising our long-standing commitment to safety and maintenance excellence.

We are doing everything we can to return Pont-Aven to service as soon as possible but cannot reasonably improve on the 14 June return date.

The repair has – of course - taken much longer than we would have liked for which we can only apologise once again.

If your scheduled sailing with Brittany Ferries has been affected you will receive notification from our Customer Services team. They will try their hardest to make alternative arrangements on other services. You can of course cancel your booking if you prefer - and make alternative arrangements. We will fully refund any booking for travel between now and 14 June – please email refund@brittanyferries.com

 

[Langtoftlad]

It's all very well them being ever so reasonable saying they'll refund your money if you cancel - but what about compensation for consequential loss due to alternatives being inconvenient or more expensive?

 

[jongood]

Avey vous un cuppa ??? very important

'Deux pressions sil vous' plait is more my cup of tea.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Theonlysue]

Passenger safety HAS to be paramount!

 

[Bartyfixedit]

The last broken rudder I dealt with on a ferry took 7 weeks. A rudder is a seriously complex and massively strong construction. I suspect the rudder itself is not the problem.

 

[Mr porky]

@Langtoftlad very true,luckily I had given myself a few days leeway with regard to my commitments in the uk and a stop off in Bordeaux is not strenuous. “Une coupe de vin, s’il vous plaît!"

 

[Kenp]

I booked Pont Aven for 18 June from Portsmouth to Santander. Imagine my surprise when I checked online today to find that I would now depart from Plymouth! I spoke to Brittany Ferries who confirmed the change and expected that Pont Aven would, for the rest of the year, do Plymouth - Santander rather than Portsmouth-Santander. They are in the process of informing passengers in order of date of departure.

 

[2657]

The last broken rudder I dealt with on a ferry took 7 weeks. A rudder is a seriously complex and massively strong construction. I suspect the rudder itself is not the problem.

Im think the problem is with the hydraulic system:
"
The problem with Pont-Aven’s starboard side steering gear was first identified on the approach to Roscoff on the morning of 17 May. A loss of oil pressure had reduced rudder efficiency.
The ship was immediately taken out of service and sailed to the shipyard in Brest for investigations that day. Originally our technical teams hoped the loss of pressure might have been caused by the failure of something that would merely require the unit to be removed and a part replaced. However, the investigation pointed to a far more serious issue that would take longer to resolve."

I booked Pont Aven for 18 June from Portsmouth to Santander. Imagine my surprise when I checked online today to find that I would now depart from Plymouth! I spoke to Brittany Ferries who confirmed the change and expected that Pont Aven would, for the rest of the year, do Plymouth - Santander rather than Portsmouth-Santander. They are in the process of informing passengers in order of date of departure.

I think the problems with one of the engines caused by the fire has not been fully resolved so full power and thus speed is not possible so they are using the Pont Aven on the shorter Plymouth - Santander route.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Pops 1]

It's all very well them being ever so reasonable saying they'll refund your money if you cancel - but what about compensation for consequential loss due to alternatives being inconvenient or more expensive?

I was due to sail on the same ship from Portsmouth to Santander in June and the sailing was cancelled due to a fire on board. I can categorically say that Brittany Ferries will not compensate you in any other way other that to offer you an alternative sailing (in my case to northern France which was of no use to me) or a refund. I had to cancel several hotels for my trip some of which I could not get refunded and Brittany Ferries flatly refused to consider any sort of compensation.

 

[thebriars]

Seems like Pont Aven is a bit of a wreck and best avoided.

According to Which, if you are offered an alternate crossing you are still entitled to compensation up to 50% for the length of the delay.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/ferry-delay-your-rights

 

[2657]

I was due to sail on the same ship from Portsmouth to Santander in June and the sailing was cancelled due to a fire on board. I can categorically say that Brittany Ferries will not compensate you in any other way other that to offer you an alternative sailing (in my case to northern France which was of no use to me) or a refund. I had to cancel several hotels for my trip some of which I could not get refunded and Brittany Ferries flatly refused to consider any sort of compensation.

We got a refund and £165 expenses for travelling to St Malo, just about covered the cost.

Regarding lost hotel bookings is that not what travel insurance is for.

 

[La Pluma]

Just had a 25%credit on our second cancellation for use on our next crossing

 

[monzer]

Guaranteed it's the left falange that's gone.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lyrick]

Just had a 25%credit on our second cancellation for use on our next crossing

Me too

 

[maison]

'Deux pressions sil vous' plait is more my cup of tea.

Mais, bien sûr!

 

[maison]

We had booked a return crossing, with “dog friendly cabin” when they took their ferry out of service for engine mods a couple of years ago.

Our crossing was cancelled and there were no alternative crossings available with dog friendly cabins.

No compensation, not even an apology.

Not happy!

 

[Pops 1]

I'm surprised the Pont Aven is still sailing, with all the faults it's had this year it should have been laying next to the Titanic long ago. We had to cancel a holiday on the motorcycle earlier this year because of a fault on the ship and got bugger all in the way of compensation for the hotels etc we had to cancel. Currently got a complaint lodged with ABTA about it but I don't expect to get anywhere with it.