DOVER (dpa-AFX) – In all likelihood, the ferry operator P&O will not be able to offer any connections on the important route from Dover to Calais at Easter either. Experts have found “a number of deficiencies” on board the “Spirit of Britain” that must now be remedied, the British sea rescue authority told the BBC on Wednesday. This means that two ferries that normally carry cars and lorries across the English Channel have now been shut down.
The ferry operator has been under criticism for weeks. For financial reasons, P&O had laid off all 800 crew members and replaced them with cheaper workers. The British government announced consequences.
Inspectors are currently checking all eight of the company’s ships for safety and seaworthiness. At least two ferries are released. However, they are usually used on other routes. After a week-long break, P&O actually wanted to resume the Dover-Calais connection in time for the Easter holidays.
In the southeastern English county of Kent, there have been kilometer-long truck traffic jams for days due to the P&O failures. Other reasons are the Easter holidays, problems with the new IT system for customs controls in the UK’s busiest port and Brexit. The British authorities have been controlling imports from the EU much more strictly than before since January./bvi/DP/jha