This post is the 2nd installment of my series ‘A Year in Review‘ and features a selection of my own photography from June/July 2015
June/July
The months of June/July will be well remembered for the chaos on the short sea routes from Dover to Calais. Following their announcement at the end of May in regards to ending its partnership with MyFerryLink Groupe Eurotunnel (GET) announced the sale of its maritime assets to DFDS A/S.
The sale would include the Rodin and the Berlioz but not the Nord Pas de Calais. This resulted in industrial action at the Port of Calais with MyFerryLink services suspended on the 23rd and 30th June followed by the cessation of all MyFerryLink services as of the 1st July 2015. The Rodin and the Berlioz remained at the Port of Calais occupied by their crews. The Nord Pas de Calais was in the Port of Dover when the industrial commenced but sailed for lay up in Dunkerque on the 30th June.
With the Port of Calais effectively closed to all traffic between the 30th June and the 2nd July P&O Ferries sent the Pride of Kent, Pride of Canterbury, Pride of Burgundy and the Spirit of France to the French port of Boulogne. Owing to the lack of border facilities at Boulogne these services were operated ‘outbound only’ with the vessels returning to Dover empty.
Meanwhile DFDS Seaways diverted the Calais Seaways to Dunkerque and the Malo Seaways was withdrawn from service and laid up in the Port of Dover. It was hoped that she could operate to Dunkerque but following unsatisfactory berthing trials she remained out of service from the 30th June until the 21st July.
On 24 June the dreaded ‘Operation Stack’ was implemented due to industrial action taken by the employees of MyFerryLink. This was the first ever incident which has seen the implementation of Phase 4 of Operation Stack, which involves closing the M20 from Junctions 9 to 11 coast-bound, meaning that continent-bound lorry traffic was stacked all the way from Junction 8 at Hollingbourne, southeast of Maidstone, to Junction 12 at Cheriton, near Folkestone. Operation Stack began to be removed from 3 July onwards, with more than 30 miles of parked lorries needing to be cleared.
Over 4,600 lorries were eventually cleared from the M20 by 4 July, however soon afterwards Phase 2 was implemented again for Eurotunnel freight traffic, due to over 150 migrants storming the Calais tunnel portal at Coquelles. This was as a result of the ongoing migrant crisis in Calais.
To help ease the backlog of traffic caused by these ongoing situation in Calais P&O Ferries reactivated their freight vessel European Seaway from lay up in Tilbury on the 17th July. She entered service on the 20th July operating three return trips a day to Calais as a stern loader (her bow doors were sealed whilst being used as a wind farm accommodation vessel in the North Sea). Due to the ongoing situation at Calais P&O Ferries experienced its busiest month for freight “in modern history” shipping 123,000 units in total. P&O Ferries also carried 1.04m passengers in July, making it the busiest July for the company in 11 years.
The Rodin and the Spirit of France are seen hurrying towards the Port of Dover from Calais
The Rodin passes through the Eastern entrance of the Port of Dover from Calais
The Spirit of France seen on her final approach to the Port of Dover from Calais
The Rodin seen approaching her berth at the Port of Dover
The Rodin seen approaching her berth at the Port of Dover
The Pride of Kent seen through the Western entrance heading to Calais
The Dunkerque Seaways seen arriving at the Port of Dover from Dunkerque
The Spirit of France is seen loading for Calais as the Dunkerque Seaways loads for Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways arrives at the Eastern docks from Calais
The Calais Seaways arrives at the Eastern docks from Calais
The Rodin seen getting underway for Calais from berth 6 at Dover Eastern Docks
The Calais Seaways arrives at the Eastern docks as the Rodin gets underway to Calais
The Calais Seaways arrives at the Eastern docks as the Rodin gets underway to Calais
From left to right: The Spirit of France, Dunkerque Seaways and the Calais Seaways
The Nord Pas de Calais seen arriving at the Port of Dover as the Spirit of France departs for Calais
The Nord Pas de Calais seen arriving at the Port of Dover from Calais
The Dunkerque Seaways departs from berth 3 at the Eastern docks for Dunkerque
The Malo Seaways seen in the Calais approach channel departing for the Port of Dover
The Malo Seaways seen in the Calais approach channel departing for the Port of Dover
The Pride of Kent seen alongside her berth in the Port of Calais
The Rodin seen loading at Calais berth 5 a day before MyFerryLink ceased operations on the 29th June 2015
The Calais Seaways heads for the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways heads for the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways heads for the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways heads out of the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways heads out of the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Calais Seaways heads out of the Western entrance. News was just coming through that the Port of Calais was closed and upon departure she diverted to Dunkerque
The Dover Explorer returning to her berth in the Western Docks following another successful Sea Safari along the White Cliffs of Dover
An unusual visitor to the Port of Dover in June was the cruise vessel Gann, seen here approaching Cruise Terminal 1 from the end of the Prince of Wales pier
An unusual visitor to the Port of Dover in June was the cruise vessel Gann, seen here approaching Cruise Terminal 1 from the end of the Prince of Wales pier
An unusual visitor to the Port of Dover in June was the cruise vessel Gann, seen here approaching Cruise Terminal 1 from the end of the Prince of Wales pier
An unusual visitor to the Port of Dover in June was the cruise vessel Gann, seen here approaching Cruise Terminal 1 from the end of the Prince of Wales pier
The Malo Seaways seen swinging for her berth at Dover Eastern Docks following her arrival from Calais
The Malo Seaways seen swinging for her berth at Dover Eastern Docks following her arrival from Calais
The Dunkerque Seaways departs for Dunkerque sailing under the stern of the Malo Seaways
The Dunkerque Seaways departs for Dunkerque sailing under the stern of the Malo Seaways
The Malo Seaways seen berthing at Dover Eastern Docks following her arrival from Calais. This would be her last arrival before laying up until the 21st July 2015
The Dunkerque Seaways departs for Dunkerque via the Eastern entrance
The Malo Seaways seen berthing at Dover Eastern Docks following her arrival from Calais. This would be her last arrival before laying up until the 21st July 2015
Old P&O flag and new P&O flag together at Dover. The Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Burgundy alongside at the Port of Dover
With the Port of Calais closed the Pride of Canterbury is seen departing in ballast for the downs anchorage off Deal
With the Port of Calais now closed the Spirit of France had to return to Dover and berth bow in on berth 9 to discharge her traffic
With the Port of Calais now closed the Spirit of France had to return to Dover and berth bow in on berth 9 to discharge her traffic
All photographs on this page were taken with either a Canon EOS 550D, Canon EOS 700D or a Panasonic Lumix FZ72.
I would like to remind you that the photos on this page may not be used without prior permission. If you require high-resolution non watermarked copies of any of my photos for your own private collection or for publication please free to get in contact to discuss your requirements.
All photographs unless otherwise stated are the © copyright of Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos) 2016, All rights reserved.