A strike at the French port of Calais has caused disruption to ferry services travelling from Calais to Dover. The pension reforms dispute has caused P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, and DFDS to cancel, delay, or reroute sailings. Passengers have been warned to check-in with ferry operators for the latest updates on their services. The Port of Dover remains open but delays are expected.
Calais port officials anticipate that the industrial action will continue until midnight on Saturday. As a result of the strike, Irish Ferries has cancelled at least four sailings, while DFDS has rerouted all its crossings to Dunkirk, roughly 30 miles to the east of Calais. In a statement, Irish Ferries said, “Due to port strike action at Calais on Friday, there is expected to be delays and disruptions to all sailings on the Dover-Calais route. We will work to ensure you are put on the next available sailing. We thank you for your patience.”
DFDS apologised for the inconvenience caused, stating that passengers affected should proceed to Dunkirk port, where they will be rebooked and accommodated onto the next available sailing. P&O ferries issued an alert shortly before 8 am informing passengers that check-in is “currently suspended” but they will be able to get on the next available sailing.
Fares for the Channel Tunnel have reportedly risen significantly as drivers move to the fixed link to avoid crossing the Channel, leading to tailbacks on the highways leading to the tunnel. Approximately 30% of goods transported between mainland Europe and the UK pass through Calais and the Channel Tunnel, making the route a critical part of the UK economy
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