Striking MyFerryLink Workers Block Calais Port

France’s Port of Calais has been closed by striking MyFerryLink workers who blocked the sea and road entrances to the port, reportedly in fear of losing their jobs after the company’s cruise ships were sold to DFDS earlier this week, the BBC reports.

MyFerryLink ships are currently blocking other ships at Calais from entering or departing, the BBC says. Burning tires are blocking road entrances to the port. Eurotunnel services have also been affected.

Migrants are increasingly trying to board trucks waiting to depart for England. A number of migrants also reportedly tried to break into the port of Calais.

The strike has caused severe congestion across the English Channel, at the port of Dover. DFDS Seaways services are still running from Dover to Dunkerque as normal, and tourist traffic heading for the Port of Dover is advised to use the A2/M2 route.

Freight traffic heading from Dover to France continues to build up and Operation Stack has been implemented (holding freight traffic on the coast-bound carriageway of the M20).

As World Maritime News reported yesterday, Eurotunnel, the parent company of MyFerryLink, accepted DFDS’ offer for the sister ferries Rodin and Berlioz.

The 1,500-gt Rodin, built in 2001 and the 2005-built Berlioz were owned by MyFerryLink and were sold to Eurotunnel in 2012.

World Maritime News Staff