Cross Channel ferries during Storm Ciaran

[Cloud Strife]

I've been following the situation of Dover-Calais/Dunkirk ferries on https://www.marinetraffic.com/ since late last night, and it seems that there are quite a few ferries just sitting in the Channel doing nothing. According to the AIS of several ferries, they've been at sea since last night. Some examples:

Irish Ferries Isle of Inisheer: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...210780000/imo:9181091/vessel:ISLE_OF_INISHEER - at sea since 09:30 CET
Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore - https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...09093000/imo:9142605/vessel:ISLE_OF_INISHMORE - at sea since 07:50 CET
P&O Spirit of France: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...209490000/imo:9533816/vessel:SPIRIT_OF_FRANCE - at sea since 22:44 GMT
P&O Pioneer: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...mmsi:210385000/imo:9895161/vessel:P_O_PIONEER - at sea since 19:30 CET
DFDS Delft Seaways: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...si:235009590/imo:9293088/vessel:DELFT_SEAWAYS - at sea since 03:09 CET
DFDS Dover Seaways: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...si:235010500/imo:9318345/vessel:DOVER_SEAWAYS - at sea since 01:57 CET
DFDS Cote d'Opale: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...msi:228417600/imo:9858321/vessel:COTE_D_OPALE - at sea since 23:36 CET
DFDS Cote des Flanders: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...28085000/imo:9305843/vessel:COTE_DES_FLANDRES - at sea since 22:16 CET

Does anyone know if these ferries have passengers on board, or if they've simply been taken out to sea without passengers? DFDS cancelled their sailings late last night, while P&O announced that they were operating a one ship shuttle service until the Port of Dover closed. Irish Ferries were operating as usual until the port closed, but if they have passengers on board, why haven't they berthed in Calais to unload them?

 

[Elwyn]

I used to travel between Newhaven & Dieppe in the 1970s. Sometimes in a storm the ferries would sit in the lea of the Isle of Wight till the seas reduced. One of the Masters explained that going in or out of a harbour in a storm can be very hazardous. In shallow water the propellers and rudder don’t work as effectively. Plenty of opportunities for bending the vessel or quayside. And in the case of Dieppe at low tide with a big swell there was a chance of grounding the vessel too. Much safer to sit it out at sea.

 

[RT4038]

With the size of the ships now, going through the gap in the harbour wall at Dover is very hazardous in heavy seas, so stay outside.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Does anyone know if these ferries have passengers on board, or if they've simply been taken out to sea without passengers?

I don’t know for certain, but I strongly suspect there are no passengers on board. I imagine that the boats have put to sea as it can, bizarrely, be safer out there ratter than moored in a harbour.

 

[BayPaul]

I don’t know for certain, but I strongly suspect there are no passengers on board. I imagine that the boats have put to sea as it can, bizarrely, be safer out there ratter than moored in a harbour.

Ships are designed to safely ride out bad weather at sea. The Captain has plenty of control over speed, heading and location to best take advantage of shelter. In port there's a risk of parting mooring lines (snapping ropes), surging up and down the berth in the swell, being blown off the berth etc. Dover is a particularly horrible port in bad weather - much, much better to head out to sea.

 

[Bald Rick]

My most “memorable“ channel crossing was in September 1987: Calais - Dover in an early autumn storm. Well over 4 hours…