Ferry safety doubts
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• Fresh doubts about the safety of cross-channel ferries are raised in a report from the Consumers' Association, which claims that 40 million travellers a year are put at risk by inadequate safety regulations.
The most serious finding is that ferry operators are unable to meet the 30-minute evacuation time demanded by international regulations. The captain of one ferry claims that evacuation takes up to two hours. The most optimistic estimate quoted is 43 minutes, and that assumes calm weather, orderly passengers and no technical problems.
Owner Operators UK, which represents small hauliers, backs up the report's findings: "Certificates should not be issued to ships that cannot be cleared in 30 minutes," says national development manager, Mick Billingham. "If anyone is trapped for longer than 30 minutes they are likely to be dead." Billingham accepts that some improvements have been made including the provision of cabins to prevent drivers sleeping in their cabs. "Unfortunately these are often below the waterline." He believes that RO-ROs with their vast freight holds will always cause problems.