Club Arnage

Just heard that P&O are discontinuing ferry services between Pompey and Le Havre. The only service out  will be to Bilbao but didn't say when effective from.

The pompey services to Cherbourg and Caen are also being closed according to the news this morning. Lets hope Brittany don't do the obvious move and jack up prices to silly levels, otherwise a lot of us will have to get used to doing the Calais run.

Just found out that 2 P&O ships are being transfered to Brittany Ferries, so its possible that the Le Havre route might remain. But with no competion price will become an issue.

euro tunnel again in 2005 then  :o

Just about to go get the truth.

I will post up what is known.

According to the Reuter website they are axeing all but one of their Western chanel routes to France.
Doesn't say which one will remain though.

Just watch Brittany increase their prices dramatically now. :( :(

Brittany are allegedly going to run the Le Havre route.
They are not taking bookings for June for another couple of weeks though.

At least that's what the young lady at there reservations desk just told me when I phoned to make a booking as their website only allows bookings up to March 2005 at present.

We went on the 'Gipsy' run Transmanche ferries (Newhaven - Dieppe) last year - although a step back in time with facilities and decor I'd rather give them my £68 for a rtn. journey than £300 to P&O, Brittany or the Chunnel - and before anyone says I've crossed the channel over 80 times in the last 14 years with all the carriers.

Shame with P&O they used to be ok until the last 3 or 4 years when their prices just became a little over the top.  :P

With my cynical head on I would say they need this time to work out how much they can increase the price by :( :(

BF Press Release :


Brittany Ferries plans increased service to France

Following today’s publication by P&O Ferries (P&O) of their future strategy and, in particular, the curtailment of their Western Channel services from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Cherbourg, Brittany Ferries confirms that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with P&O with the objective to assume, subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements and regulatory approval, the charters of the two cruise ferries – Pride of Le Havre and Pride of Portsmouth – and to offer an alternative service to Le Havre.

Additionally, Brittany Ferries may re-align capacity on some of its existing routes.  New timetables covering any re-alignment and the provisional plans for the Portsmouth - Le Havre route will be announced in due course.

David Longden, Managing Director, Brittany Ferries commented: “These are challenging times for the ferry industry with the Channel Tunnel, new seasonal services, increasing competition from low-cost airlines, and continuous price pressure, led in particular by the Dover-Calais route, resulting in downward pressure on rates.  The developments will enable us to provide our customers, both passenger and freight, with the reassurance of route choice and the highest level of service.”

Mr Longden continued: “This initiative by Brittany Ferries will also help to secure continuity and a significant number of jobs, both on-shore in Portsmouth and Le Havre, as well as on board the two ships involved.”

P&O Press Release :
FERRIES: OUTCOME OF REVIEW

P&O announces today the conclusions of its fundamental business review of P&O Ferries. The review has been the most detailed and wide-ranging ever undertaken of the operation of the business. The outcome, which includes a number of proposals which are subject to employee consultation and other approvals, is expected to benefit the operating result by £55 million a year.
The central conclusion of the review is that there will be a fundamental change in both the product that is offered to customers and the cost base of the business. P&O Ferries proposes to reduce the number of ships it operates from 31 to 23 and to close four of its 13 routes. The proposals could result in a reduction of approximately 1,200 jobs and the transfer of a further 350 jobs.
Freight accounts for half of P&O Ferries’ net revenue and the market has been growing at 6% a year. A new freight product is to be introduced that will:
• be competitively priced;
• give customers rapid loading and short waiting times;
• be based on new key account management systems; and
• continue to give drivers excellent meals, amenities and service on board.

Tourist traffic, including on board spend, accounts for the other half of total net revenue. It continues to be of key importance to the overall business but the market has been adversely affected by fewer day trips and the expansion of the low cost airlines. Nevertheless, there is a continuing opportunity particularly in relation to short break and long stay travellers. Focusing on these segments of the market, P&O Ferries’ new tourist product will:
• offer clear and consistent pricing with an improved website;
• provide value for money;
• offer an enhanced on board experience;
• continue to give passengers a range of high quality refreshment options; and
• provide new and attractive on board purchasing opportunities.

Separately, major changes are proposed to the cost base of the business. The main ones are as
follows:

• the closure of all Western Channel routes except Portsmouth to Bilbao. The number of ships operated will be reduced from six to one. One of the surplus ships will be redeployed elsewhere, one will be redelivered to the owner and three will be chartered out, two to Brittany Ferries under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding executed today and the other subject to ongoing discussions with third parties;

• on the Short Sea, six ships will be operated compared to seven at present but, through rescheduling, service frequency and capacity in peak periods will be unchanged;

• new, more flexible manning arrangements and changes in work practices are proposed.Safety and reliability remain paramount and the proposals have been agreed with theMaritime and Coastguard Agency; and

• significant savings in procurement and other areas have been identified. Possible outsourcing of fleet management is also under active consideration.

These proposals would reduce the cash operating costs of the business by over £100 million or 20%. After allowing for the anticipated loss of net revenue from the routes being closed, and a reduction in depreciation charges (as explained below), the benefit to the operating result is estimated to be £55 million a year. The cost of implementing the proposals would be approximately £60 million. Most of the savings are expected to be achieved by mid-2005 and the remainder by early 2006.
As previously announced, the review has also considered the carrying value of P&O Ferries’ assets. Goodwill of £108 million will be written off and it is expected that there will be write downs and impairment charges against other assets of £72 million. This will result in a reduction of £13 million in the annual depreciation and amortisation charge. Including the provision of £60 million for the cost of implementing the savings, the total exceptional charge arising from the review is expected to be approximately £240 million.
Commenting on the announcement, P&O Chief Executive Robert Woods said: “I am determined to see a major improvement in the profitability of P&O Ferries. What we are announcing today will enable us to have a simplified, customer focused product operated on fewer routes with fewer ships and a substantially lower, more flexible cost base.
“Whilst we greatly regret the possible job losses, we are convinced that what we are proposing is the best way forward for the long term prosperity of the business.”

1. P&O announced at the time of its Preliminary Results on 4 March 2004 that a wide-ranging business review was underway looking at the overall market and all aspects of the business.
2. Subject to employee consultation, the following fleet changes are proposed:

• Western Channel (six ships reduced to one; three out of four routes closed)
-Pride of Cherbourg to be laid up or chartered out until mid-2007 when its charter expires;
-Cherbourg Express to replace the Superstar Express on the Northern Corridor of the Irish Sea;
-Caen Express to be redelivered to its owners on expiry of the current charter in October 2004; and
-Pride of Portsmouth and Pride of Le Havre to be chartered out to Brittany Ferries with their crew and related shore staff, subject inter alia to contract and regulatory approval.

• Short Sea (eight ships, including one laid up, reduced to six; no route closures)
-Pride of Provence to be sold;
-Pride of Aquitaine to be redelivered at end of charter (end 2005); and
-European Seaway, currently laid up, to be returned to service.

• Irish Sea (seven ships reduced to six; four routes reduced to three)
-Superstar Express is being redelivered to the owners, having reached the end of charter and replaced by Cherbourg Express; and
-European Diplomat to replace Bore Mari on the North Sea.

• North Sea (no ship reductions or route closures)
-Bore Mari to be redelivered at end of charter (end 2004) and replaced by European Diplomat

The only logical analysis means that we'll be relying on the largess of Brittany Ferries. Hope they don't hike the prices to absurdly high levels, or we'll be organising a trip to the EU Competion Commission in Strasbourg. Mind, it might make a pleasant day out...

As some may know i do (did) work for p+o ferries (y) and they have indeed axed the le havre, caen and cherbourg routes. Brittany fisheries have not yet actually signed the charter agreement for the le havre ships and have a window of opportunity to untill Jan 1st 2005. Personally i can't see why they would want to. Ever since p+o chartered the po ports and le havre they have not made a profit. 10 years it's been since they did.
As for the price hike, i'm affraid that will be ineveterable. Beleive it or not the prices are at an altime low for 30 years (relative costs cosiered).
one thing is for certain, britany fisheries will now get a monopoly at portsmouth, something that is going to be investigated.

Should we take the ferry or fly?

Bad news for all the P&O people losing there jobs, as I understand it most of the losses will be from Dover.

Is there any chance of a new company (other than B+F) taking over the routes to be axed?

On the up side for us at least, by next year the new dual carrigeway/trollroad from Rouen to LM should be fully open, so the drive from calais should be quicker. (but maybe not in a commer I suspect)

no driving down the N138 like your hair's on fire then, half the fun of going

Oh B*****s

Last week I booked P& O to Cherbourg for  £200.  Thought it was to good to be true!!!.  No response yet from them on what happens to my booking.  Hopefully it will be transfered to Brittany Ferries.

As foras the A28 The web site says it doesnt open until Dec 2005

times on saturday - travel section has an article on the P & O situation and highlights the fears that Brittany Ferries will abuse their position.

BF MD Dave Longden is quoted as saying

"Our prices this year were exactly the same as they were in 2003 - and i can say there will be no price increases for 2005 beyond inflation.  Indeed, that there will be a range of reductions on many sailings."

Looks like all you western channel chaps will be joining us at Dover / Calais next year then.  ;)

After a resounding vote yesterday in the local boozer, the 2005 SPS Crew have decided to go via Brittany Ferries.



as long as it doesnt cost the earth !!

No one fancied the drive to Dover - calais.

Sorry Steve, wont be seeing you on that route....yet.

From experience they are not the cheapest, but are convenient for Me, Mrs P. and the gang. Dunno what next years' prices are like yet though as their website only gives pricing out to April '05.

We don't fancy the drive to Dover either, but could be persuaded if Brittany really start to take the p*ss now they have a virtual monopoly.

Due to the price hike from Portsmouth to Caen last year we ended up staying with Brittany Ferries but using the Poole to Cherbourg route. Bit of a longer drive at the other end than from Caen but still a lot closer than Calais.

The drive from Calais may be one hell of a distance but it's motorway as far as Rouen, which is half distance. As long as you clear Rouen before the morning rush hour it's not too bad. You still end up on the 138 whichever way you go and Iv'e only ever had problems when on that godforsaken bloody road. Oh! by the way I will be one of those tw***s driving a discovery, don't forget to give me a cheery wave.

If yours is covered in little yellow stickers, weaving  around the road and driven by cretins, I'll give you cheery wave alright  :-*

Calais to Rouen is not the slog it used to be, Rouen can still a nightmare if you catch it at the wrong time of day and there are roadworks, otherwise its ok, or you can avoid it by going round to the west.

 It's worth doing a bit of checking around  ;)  we've just booked next years hols'  through "camping cheques.
 Ferry crossing june12th afternoon, june 27th morning return plus 13 camping cheques for 4 adults a LDV camper with a trailer for the beachbuggy total price £282.70.
  They've booked us for Portsmouth - Le Havre and as long as it's booked and payed before the end of Oct' [which we obviously have ;) ) then it's price garanteed (sp)

P+O are apparently not allowed to pull out of Portsmouth. They tried to a few years ago out of one of the irish ports are were told they could not by the monopolies and mergers commision. Gues thats why they are keeping the Spanish route open out of Portsmouth then!

AS the SPS Crew live in and around a 5 mile radius of Portsmouth it makes sence to go from Portsmouth.

If that route is crasy priced, its Newhaven Dieppe. If that boat keeps running aground, its back to Portsmouth.

I am hoping the Portsmouth Le HAvre route will be kept running by Brittany and is cheaper that Caen as its my prefered route.

Oct 11th will tell.

It looks like Newhaven-Dieppe for us too. Dover-Calais takes forever from Brum in the afternoon, though that Motorway number 2 is fun when you get to mix it with all the other petrolheads coming back from Mecca, oops sorry Lemans... And although it is M-way to Rouen it is hell when you c**ck up and end up driving through a miserable industrial area at night tryng to make sense of written instructions... I ALWAYS get Perdu in France at least once every trip.
 ;)

Bill

Is it only Transmanche Ferries that operate the Newhaven- Dieppe route ? If so does anyone have any idea of prices timetables etc. Iv'e just  been on their website and they don't seem to want to give me any imfomation.

www.hoverspeed.co.uk

operate too.

Keep off!  The other operator on that route is a well kept secret and should stay that way until I book my crossing!

The Transmache ferry site is truly awful and the ferries not much better.  They have run aground once, twice or more over the years.  Oh and not that long ago the guy steering one of them was pissed, and the result was it hit the wall at Dieppe, doing a fair amount of damage!

ps Hoverspeed is the other company on the route, and they usually release low fares in November

Should of known someone would give away the secret!  ;D

I'm led to belive the M.C.A are currently investigating the Transmarche ferry and believe this may explain their reluctance to except bookings too far in advance. They think the ship's not buggered enough!

Press release on BBC South to Day

Brittany Ferries have announced they will be taking over the Le Havre and Cherbourd Routes as operated previously by P&O.

And so.....


Should have a good choice of routes again.


BF still havent  got this years prices uploaded.

Should be panic over then - Chef any chance you will get tranfered to BF?

Probably not a good choice of prices though  >:(

First we heard about it (along with the port it's self!) was on the evening news. I've heard they may also be doing a fast craft to caen next year. Now where did they get that idea from?
They (Britany f ) are apparently wanting 34 staff so we may be transfered by th 2pay scheme. Apparently that will meen we will not get redundancy payments and if we refuse we will be sacking our selves. Who knows.
There are also problems with britany taking over the Le Havre ship's charters before Jan so it's looking dodgy for the crews on those.

Ferries Schmerries, who needs 'em?
This sounds like a great excuse to cover yourself with goosefat and start that channel swimming training.
In fact, forget the swimming and let's just have a goosefat-partyyyyy!!
H

.....still havn't.  Thought they were supposed to be posted today!!!

DB

I rang Brittany today to find out if they had started to price up for the pilgrimage and they confirmed they were sending out the quotes by post to all on the waiting list.
I also rang P&O who confirmed the 2 routes mentioned in previous post will be taken on and honoured by P&O and to top it off i got the best quote for 8years off them for a Cherbourg return, i'm just gonna wait to see what cean by Brittany iss gonna damage the wallet.
good luck all.

I am led to believe that after the new route ideas coming out, it could be as late as the new year.

I havent checked yet, had a very important interview, and forgot completly about the Ferries.

[quote ] had a very important interview,


Is the job safe or have they caught up with you at last?  ;)

Job safe.... They cant catch me ( until i get a bit fatter)

No.. It was for a kind of promotion. Great job if i get it. Still paid by her Maj

Best of luck Robbo

Paid by your fine chums on here more like.....you can call us all "boss" if you like.

Unless that is, there are members of the South East branch of the Tax Evaders Sports and Social Club on here...........surely not, perish the thought!

Well Boss, thanks for the great results and Pursuit management and leadership course.

ALso thanks for the 3% pay rise last month, after the pension schemen, i get another 5p in my drinking fund.

Oh and thanks for the night shifts over christmas/ boxing day and late plus on New years eve, just because some of you think single lads dont want the time off !!

And thanks for letting the laws of this country becoming a total joke, with punishments not as sevire as a Big H spanking party !!

 ;)

Judging by your reply, maybe your interview should have been for something outside the service.
Not saying I don't agree with your sentiment, but I wouldn't hang around in a job I was so hacked off with. Mind you, good job you chaps do.
Anyway, back to work please.

Yes Sir  :)

Got a friend who is doing the hull zeebrugge crossing next week is going to let me know how it is as for us up north might be a better option only and extra 80 miles or so overall driving time but on quieter non uk roads

That Zeebrugge to Le Mans run is about 5 hours according  to Autoroute, but the route they pick out takes you through Paris. I haven't had the nerve to try Paris with MY driving yet... Might be a better route for you than cheapo old Dover though.

Still worrying about getting adecent ride across though...

 :(


Bill

From Zeebrugge I would go past Calais and miss Paris.

Without the caravan Calais to Le mans was about 3h 45m but that was going a bit, at night on empty roads.

It's more like 6 or 7 hours with the. caravan Zeebrugge is probably 60 - 90 mins up the road from Calais ( a guess.) It's a horribly slow crossing though.

I don't know why but I don't feel really concerned by these posts  :P

That's because you never bother to come to England, Gilles! You keep promising but...

Anyone investigated the cost of chartering our own ferry from Portsmouth, if such a thing is possible? It might work out cheaper than the Brittany ferries monopoly!!

Kinnel, that really is entering a world of fantasy usually occupied by rock stars and footballers. A lottery win would be the only way for us mere mortals could afford it, unless you know of anyone who has a WW2 landing craft for hire. Now that would be a laugh. HIT THE BEACHES.

The Caterham Club charter one of the fastcraft jobbies. I believe there are about 100 of them travel together. IIRC the cost is about £600 per head but that includes all their entertainment, entry (orobably not beer!) and the rather lavish setup they have in Camping Bleu.

The logistical issue is persuading everyone to travel on the same day...

Why does the thought of piracy spring to mind?
Must change the medication!

The P&O website is more expensive than Brittany Fisheries routes this year ?

BF are trying to keep the price down, or ......

They maybe in the do do !!

Smokie - I believe the 7's club are doing individual bookings this year ?

Dunno, I haven't checked...

Yep, I heard that about the Sevens this year too.

I think they have a new organiser!

It would appear that P&O are keeping the Pompey - Le Havre route after all.  Just had a letter from them - I have been a member of their Frequent Traveller program for years.  Letter states that, among other things, the frequent traveller scheme is being chopped, and they are introducing, and I quote

 "...a new, simpler, low cost, airline style pricing policy.....to ensure that you can easily access more flexible and attractive fares.  Our prices will vary, based on demand and time of booking, offering great value if you book early."

They are also offering special deals on some of their routes, including Portsmouth - Le Havre.

Now you see 'em, now you don't!!!!

DB

Ah....just tried the web site and if you select Pompey-Le Havre, you get a message saying that negotiations are taking place and this booking may be transferred to another operator!

DB

DB,
I booked and paid for the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route a couple of months ago. The travel agent got in touch with me last week saying that P&O are pulling out of Portsmouth. At first I thought she was telling me I'd missed the boat, but it seems it's worse than that. Anyway, P&O were pleased to offer me a Dover/Calais crossing....
I'm told Brittany are taking over the Portsmouth routes, but this information is now a few hours old, so may be out of date.
I'm not sure where I stand right now, apart from being £350 light and not having a booking.
And my arse is still red raw, and getting worse.
H

You see - come via the Channel Islands may not be so bad after all.

Poole via Guernsy then Jersey to St Malo, or, Weymouth via Guernsey then Jersey..........

St Malo to Le Mans - 2 hours max if you drive like a girl !!!

After 10 hours 'island hopping' in a vomit comet, you wouldn't feel like driving at all!!

Del

Well it's a fast ferry - may be the vomit will be over quickly  ;D

Once you get to Jersey, the boys from Team Crapaud will see you have a beer in your hand at least  ;D ;D

Cobelfret beckons! Killingholme to Zeebrugge or Dagenham to Vlissingen look like the best options. You always see their ferries stern to at the jetty when you go over the QEII bridge on the M25 but strangely, you never seem to see them moving!

http://www.cobelfret.com

I told you

Rich the chef still just works for P&O and we are going Brittany Ferries. Saya it all.

P&O have reduced all their traffic. Freight goes elsewhere, the managment just want to kill off the route now.

It will run Portsmouth - Le Havre until October. Le Mans bookings are well down, virtually empty at the moment.

That will be the boat with a good atmosphere then.

I'm going to book a place on Felix's trawler.

(http://mahasagarboats.com/52azic1.jpg)

I didn't know the cat owned a trawler !!   ;D

I don't, but the old git that opens the cans of Whiskas does.

No doubt he'll bore you about his battered sausage later.