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Driver left trapped in his cab for entire Channel crossing
Page 14
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Sea France has launched an investigation after a driver was apparently trapped in his cab on a Dover-Calais crossing. David Harris reports.
A TRUCK DRIVER who claims he was "incarcerated" in his own cab because of the way he was forced to park on a SeaFrance ferry has demanded an explanation from the company.
Bill Porter, who drives for Monaghan-based Boylan Transport in Ireland, says SeaFrance deck hands insisted he park up so that his driver's door was up against the ship's ribs, then put another truck close on the other side. He says this "excluded any means of escape in an emergency unless the windscreen was broken".
As a result,says Porter,he had to spend the entire journey from Dover to Calais in his cab.
In a letter to the company he writes: "I was incarcerated in a sealed compartment below decks, contravening the law passed after the Herald of Free Enterprise dis aster, which states that neither drivers nor passengers are allowed on freight decks while the ship is at sea."
Porter says some of the crew were well aware he was in his cab and that another sailor came down to switch off his fridge unit as the entry doors were being shut.
Porter told the man about his problem: "I opened the window and informed him I was unable to leave my truck — the sailor totally ignored my predicament."
The incident happened on 13 February and Porter wrote to SeaFrance on 28 February. He received a reply on 14 March say ing that the matter was under investigation.
The company says: "We regret this highly unusual incident, which we became aware of some days after the crossing in question. A full investigation was immediately launched and SeaFrance will take appropriate action depending on its conclusion. Mr Porter has been kept aware of this situation. In the meantime, the need to adhere to all safety regulations has been reemphasised to crew."