On the Galicia Santander to Portsmouth

[royandsharont]

From memory the Bay of Biscay is relatively shallow for much of it, being on the continental shelf, and hence the ability to have rough seas. After all, the whole Atlantic Ocean ends up there with its weather travelling predominantly west to east.

Once not long after leaving the Thames we had to sail due north into the seas for a few days rather than due west towards America to keep the large ship safer. It took us ages to get to Jamaica but it was December.

My wife spent Christmas Day in bed with a life jacket wedged under the mattress to stop her rolling out and when she surfaced, in the dining saloon, it was the roped down chairs that kept her off the Captains knee whilst I was in watch .

Then to cap it all we had a late hurricane and had to leave the port to weather it out at sea. A real baptism for her but she enjoyed lots of hospitality ashore . Fond memories from 1979.

 

[TheBig1]

The worst issue is any damage or loss caused at sea is paid out pennies to the pound due to some obscure law. The ferry and shipping company absolve themselves of liability in their terms and conditions

I used to regularly have to cross the Irish sea in winter, and after a few losses always rented a van from then on. The crew chain the vehicles to the deck via the wheels and axles. But any rough weather often saw chains break and HGV's slide from one side or end to the other. I have seen tractors boarded at the port to pull the wreckage out, and it's not pretty

 

[busby]

How does the loading generally work on the Santander ferry, first in the queue goes inside? If so does that mean all those Motorhomes were late arrivals, seems like a lot of them outside, I wouldn’t like that regardless of the bad weather the salt spray is bad enough

Not necessarily,,,I was first in the queue once,,and the very last to be loaded..BUSBY.

 

[L' Hobo]

In the 70's my truck was on the T/T 'Freighter' in mid winter, running between Dover and Zeebrugge when it struck the ramp in Dover still travelling so fast that it stove the front bows in. Vim Vos a Dutch company, had a couple of fairly new trucks at the front and they were damaged quite badly too.
A few of us further back had slight damage but because all are chained down, most were OK BUT, because we could not disembark, and the ferry just went back and forth across the Channel, picking up Foot passengers ONLY, for the next 3 days, ALL the truckers put in Compensation Claims for the lost trade, money etc.

It was only then that we found out, under maritime law and some obscure insurance agreement that is in the Townsend Thorenson's ticket T & C's NO_ONE COULD CLAIM A THING and we all had to seek help through our own insurance companies.

Later, T/T claimed that the accident was caused by frozen controls? So therefore, AN ACT OF GOD!

This MAY have changed AFTER the 'Spirit of Free Enterprise' disaster BUT it might be worth reading your tickets T&C's

EDIT: Just read post #32, perhaps it hasn't!

 

[2657]

How does the loading generally work on the Santander ferry, first in the queue goes inside? If so does that mean all those Motorhomes were late arrivals, seems like a lot of them outside, I wouldn’t like that regardless of the bad weather the salt spray is bad enough

The loading is controlled by a ship's officer to ensure the ship is balanced.
Even though they look big they still observe the laws of nature/buoyancy just like a small rowing boat

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[TheBig1]

It was niggling me that I could not remember the name of the obscure rule of sea transporting vehicles and goods, so did a search.... The Hague-Visby rules apply, and unless you have absolute proof of undue negligence by the crew or shipping company, there are very specific maximums set as to what can be claimed. Total loss of a vehicle is limited to an absolute maximum of £1550, including all contents and personal possessions of said vehicle, excluding works of art, jewellery and currency. It is always buried in the terms and conditions that few read and even fewer understand

 

[L' Hobo]

It was niggling me that I could not remember the name of the obscure rule of sea transporting vehicles and goods, so did a search.... The Hague-Visby rules apply, and unless you have absolute proof of undue negligence by the crew or shipping company, there are very specific maximums set as to what can be claimed. Total loss of a vehicle is limited to an absolute maximum of £1550, including all contents and personal possessions of said vehicle, excluding works of art, jewellery and currency. It is always buried in the terms and conditions that few read and even fewer understand

Not MUCH has changed in 50yrs, now I've been reminded, that Hague-Visby rule sound about right!

 

[wiljoy]

What was the damage,.? BUSBY.

Bit further up the page Busby.

 

[Two of usI]

Posted on another site 30 mins ago...
View attachment 561079

That water looks too calm even in port with the winds we have had today

 

[bigwood]

When we moved back from Germany January 1982 we crossed Rotterdam to Hull. Just as dinner was about to be served I noticed it getting rather rough. By the time we had.finished dinner plates and glasses were falling off tables and the staff were holding on.
During the night the weather turned to a howling storm. We gave up with bunks and dragged a mattress on the floor. There was a lot of scraping and banging from the car deck.
Next morning the crew said it was a force 12 mid way across the North Sea. The car deck was chaos because some unattached trailers had moved damaging other vehicles and blocking the exit. We didn’t get off until mid morning.

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[Keep Right On]

Got to ask. Do they ever cancel the ferries due to bad weather?

PS Glad I pulled the handbrake on hard and put her in gear!

Isle of Wight have cancelled the ferries tonight

 

[dash300]

Isle of Wight have cancelled the ferries tonight

Only the Red Jets on the Red Funnel fleet. Vehicle Ferry's have been running all day. We should have been on one but re booked in anticipation of cancellations.
Might well be the case for the other car ferries.

 

[Kozikot]

That water looks too calm even in port with the winds we have had today

Are you on the Keyside ? or just a Keyboard...

 

[Keep Right On]

Only the Red Jets on the Red Funnel fleet. Vehicle Ferry's have been running all day. We should have been on one but re booked in anticipation of cancellations.
Might well be the case for the other car ferries.

It was on twitter - 19.31 to Cowes and 21.30 return cancelled due to weather in the solent

 

[dash300]

It was on twitter - 19.31 to Cowes and 21.30 return cancelled due to weather in the solent

Your right. Only Redjet cancellations mentioned on the Red Funnel website.

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[wiljoy]

Do all Brittany ferries have outside deck parking?

 

[slowdriver]

It doesn't look to me as though there are any outside decks for vehicles. I await correction.

 

[Chris]

Do all Brittany ferries have outside deck parking?

No. The Pont Aven is all undercover.

 

[poppycamper]

Posted on another site 30 mins ago...
View attachment 561079

Not a big ferry user... but why are vans facing opposite directions.?? Possibly ramp angles????

 

[Emmit]

It doesn't look to me as though there are any outside decks for vehicles. I await correction.

View attachment 561182

At the very back of Deck 5 right across from P to S, there were a line of trailers in the open air.

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[carolyn]

Are you on the Keyside ? or just a Keyboard...

View attachment 561162

That’s disappointing, I was hoping all would be inside on the new ships like on the Pont Aven. Mind you we were on Cap Finistere coming back and were outside when the beast from the East hit and they must have hosed the van off as everything was clear when we drove off. Mind you we had to spend two nights in Portsmouth in a Travel Lodge as we couldn’t get back to Sherborne!

 

[L' Hobo]

Not a big ferry user... but why are vans facing opposite directions.?? Possibly ramp angles????

On that picture, its so they can load more vehicles while still allowing the driver door access.

 

[Kevmand]

Just like to say we were on Galicia 25th nov this week and we’re apprehensive about all the bad reports of food , cabins and general set up of the ship. We’ll I have to say we thought the food to be good the cabins (club class) we’re great and clean . The crossing as ever was not the best but eh oh that’s not Brittany ferries fault. We’ve also travelled on pont aven with vehicles on deck outside . And that was ok too. Everyone has different standards but we were ok with them on either ship.

 

[Riverbankannie]

It doesn't look to me as though there are any outside decks for vehicles. I await correction.

View attachment 561182

Not a big ferry user... but why are vans facing opposite directions.?? Possibly ramp angles????

The top vehicle deck at the back is open but with shaped sides.
On the one we were on, the deck was wrapped around a central staircase/lift section. We drove around the central section so , in the picture, the ones on the left have just emerged from inside and the ones on the right are at the end of the queue to drive back inside. The back row against the stern just parked up,
It is just chance where you come in the loading.

 

[L' Hobo]

Just like to say we were on Galicia 25th nov this week and we’re apprehensive about all the bad reports of food , cabins and general set up of the ship. We’ll I have to say we thought the food to be good the cabins (club class) we’re great and clean . The crossing as ever was not the best but eh oh that’s not Brittany ferries fault. We’ve also travelled on pont aven with vehicles on deck outside . And that was ok too. Everyone has different standards but we were ok with them on either ship.

On some of the EARLY container ships, if they hit REALLY bad weather they used to help some of the containers overboard and claim it was a gigantic wave so therefore, an 'act of God' which their insurance did not cover, I hope they don't do that to the motorhomes

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[Itsmcb]

I'm waiting for this mornings update

 

[Two of usI]

I'm not an expert, but have been on the Brittany Ferries dozens of times....... obviously depends on number of cars...... heavy lorries are down in the bowels ( keep C of G low ) then if not too busy all cars and M/ homes in on the main deck...... those with hazard lights flashing are disabled, so are next to lifts to accommodation. If busy, then high vehicles and some lorries go on first, so they are out of the way of the moving deck, then the deck is lowered for normal height cars, they go on and fill the moving deck, that deck is then raised and more cars fit underneath..... then again high vehicles loaded so they are clear of the moving deck........ depends on which side of the channel as to wether you are unlucky enough to be on an open deck. Think that is how it works...... maybe someone with more knowledge who can help us out !!!!!!!

 

[L' Hobo]

I'm not an expert, but have been on the Brittany Ferries dozens of times....... obviously depends on number of cars...... heavy lorries are down in the bowels ( keep C of G low ) then if not too busy all cars and M/ homes in on the main deck...... those with hazard lights flashing are disabled, so are next to lifts to accommodation. If busy, then high vehicles and some lorries go on first, so they are out of the way of the moving deck, then the deck is lowered for normal height cars, they go on and fill the moving deck, that deck is then raised and more cars fit underneath..... then again high vehicles loaded so they are clear of the moving deck........ depends on which side of the channel as to wether you are unlucky enough to be on an open deck. Think that is how it works...... maybe someone with more knowledge who can help us out !!!!!!!

The Loading Masters job is a VERY skilled one (or used to be, perhaps all done by electronic now?) and rarely appreciated!

 

[robert groves]

W

Stuff the life jacket down the side of the mattress and just sleep !!!!

When the lights go off and the alarms are shrieking,......you will realise that it is too late ,..Far Far too late, to ask how !.....

 

[Hotelman]

The Loading Masters job is a VERY skilled one (or used to be, perhaps all done by electronic now?) and rarely appreciated!

The loading masters on the Italy to Greece crossings ate definitely skilled, and not to be argued with

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