COVID-19 and ferry travel

[Kieran]

Situation to be reviewed in 48 hours but will most likely be extended. Could we see WB Yeats being redeployed ?

Minister for Transport is calling for capacity to be deployed on the direct routes, WB Yeats is the obvious ship to redeploy. There are something like 250 lorries stuck in the UK on their way to France too - the embassy is working to get them home.

[ferryfan]

Amazing that the first communication from Irish Ferries in this latest matter is to tell customers that they are not getting a refund but a credit for future travel, which just goes to show that there is an inherent meanness in this company which permeates from the top down.

[Kieran]

Posted in the Stena Movements thread already, but Stena Line is deploying the Stena Foreteller on Rosslare - Cherbourg from tomorrow.

[Kieran]

Amazing that the first communication from Irish Ferries in this latest matter is to tell customers that they are not getting a refund but a credit for future travel, which just goes to show that there is an inherent meanness in this company which permeates from the top down.

There is a degree of logic there - Irish Ferries wants to preserve cash flow. The ships are sailing (even if there is a travel ban in place for passengers), so Irish Ferries are (contractually) providing the service you paid for.

The morals of it are another story...

[ferryfan]

Goods should be transported to and from Europe on direct ferries for the foreseeable future to avoid Covid and Brexit delays according to Simon Coveney minister for Foreign Affairs.