Why do ferry services not seem to work in the UK?

[Pugwash]

For ferries to form part of peoples travel networks they need to be reliable and regular.

The Harwich - Shotley - Felixtowe Ferry only seems to work for half of the year and then only in calm water, with the last ferry at 16:30 from reports I have read it is often over capacity meaning people can be left stranded.

Hardly useful for a stress free leisure trip let alone a commute.

 

[geoffk]

As it happens, I was on the Sandbanks Ferry yesterday, on Morebus service 50. The bus was quite busy in both directions but many travelled on the Bournemouth - Sandbanks section only. The bus doesn't have any priority at the ferry toll booth - there's just one for both directions on the Studland (Swanage) side although there's a third traffic lane between the two booths which could be used but which was barriered off. Car ferries from Poole to France and the Channel Islands cross the ferry route and there must be a signalling system to avoid mishaps! There's also possible conflict between the chains used to operate the ferry and the large cross channel ships and read that, in 1996, one of the chains was broken by a Brittany Ferries ship. The ferry is due to close for maintenance work in November, meaning a large diversion via Wareham and Poole for traffic.

 

[edwin_m]

As it happens, I was on the Sandbanks Ferry yesterday, on Morebus service 50. The bus was quite busy in both directions but many travelled on the Bournemouth - Sandbanks section only. The bus doesn't have any priority at the ferry toll booth - there's just one for both directions on the Studland (Swanage) side although there's a third traffic lane between the two booths which could be used but which was barriered off. Car ferries from Poole to France and the Channel Islands cross the ferry route and there must be a signalling system to avoid mishaps! There's also possible conflict between the chains used to operate the ferry and the large cross channel ships and read that, in 1996, one of the chains was broken by a Brittany Ferries ship. The ferry is due to close for maintenance work in November, meaning a large diversion via Wareham and Poole for traffic.

BBC mentioned yesterday that ambulances from Bournemouth/Poole used the Sandbanks Ferry to attend the major incident at a care home in Swanage, as this is the quickest route.

I guess the chain ferry counts as a vessel with limited mobility, similar to something like an active dredger, so under the navigation rules everything else has to give it priority as it hasn't got much scope to evade a collision itself. Whether the locals in small boats know this may be a different question.

 

[geoffk]

BBC mentioned yesterday that ambulances from Bournemouth/Poole used the Sandbanks Ferry to attend the major incident at a care home in Swanage, as this is the quickest route.

I guess the chain ferry counts as a vessel with limited mobility, similar to something like an active dredger, so under the navigation rules everything else has to give it priority as it hasn't got much scope to evade a collision itself. Whether the locals in small boats know this may be a different question.

I was caught up in the road closure following the care home major incident. The road was swarming with police cars and ambulances. The 50 bus had to make the same diversion as I did in my car. I don't know how long the diversion lasted.

 

[BayPaul]

BBC mentioned yesterday that ambulances from Bournemouth/Poole used the Sandbanks Ferry to attend the major incident at a care home in Swanage, as this is the quickest route.

I guess the chain ferry counts as a vessel with limited mobility, similar to something like an active dredger, so under the navigation rules everything else has to give it priority as it hasn't got much scope to evade a collision itself. Whether the locals in small boats know this may be a different question.

There is a byelaw which gives the chain ferry right of way over other vessels that are under 50m in length. Larger vessels are controlled by the vessel traffic service, which ensures that the chain ferry keeps well clear. This is relatively typical for chain ferries.

There are a few oddities of chain ferries. They come under a completely different set of rules from other passenger vessels, with no requirement for a passenger certificate. The collision regulations don't really apply to them (hence the need for local byelaws), as they are never underway, as they are always effectively tied to the shore...