Dover Harbour Board under fire from irate ferry firms
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by Jo Sword
Ferry companies at the Port of Dover are joining forces against
the Harbour Board, angry that money they believed they were giving
to help fund a new ferry terminal many not actually be used for
that.
P&O, SeaFrance and Norfolkline say that if the port is
privatised who ever takes it over is under no obligation to build
the new terminal.
As a result the ferry companies could now take legal action
against the Board.
Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser said: "They feel that they have
been duped, they feel that monies that they have put in as revenue
to the Port are being used for purposes other than which should
have been intended.
"The fact the ferry operators are actually threatening at least
to take legal action against the board and its particular
privitisation plans is very significant indeed."
Helen Deeble, chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "This is
simply unacceptable.
"We feel that we have been misled.
"We were forced to pay higher charges to fund a new ferry
development, but it now seems that the £60 million will simply land
up as part of the privatisation assets of the port."
Andreas Teschl, route director, Norfolkline, said: "Dover
Harbour Board acts as though it is doing all the work to attract
the vast volumes of traffic using the port.
"But in reality the work is mainly done by the three major ferry
companies.
"We provide more than 70 per cent of its revenues yet we are not
even referred to in the privatisation prospectus."
Robin Wilkins, managing director of SeaFrance Ltd, said: "We are
not opposed as such to the sale of the port but, unusually, this
privatisation will not lead to either increased port competition or
to lower costs for us as customers.
"We simply require of an owner good operating management and
adequate consultation with stability and guarantees on pricing and
tariffs."
In a statement Dover Harbour Board said: "We were extremely
surprised to receive a joint letter from P&O Ferries, SeaFrance
and Norfolkline claiming that Dover Harbour Board has abused its
monopoly powers.
"Moreover, many of the statements made are inaccurate or simply
wrong.
"It is entirely premature to be talking publicly about issues
which we assumed would be discussed privately for at least another
three to five months in order to reach mutual agreement and
understanding.
"We do have further meetings in the diary and are prepared to
continue talking to our customers, particularly as we had been
asked by them to provide additional information in a number of
areas as negotiations continue."
Friday, March 12 2010
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