URGENT - AT Ferry to Bilbao - Cancelled 25/01 to 27/04

[BeemerMal]

Urgent....For those using the above ferry service.

I have recieved notification from my booking agent (Aferry.to) that the Acconia Transmediterrania Ferry that sails between Portsmouth and Bilbao has been suspended from today - 25th January 2007 until 27th April 2007. After this date they say sailings will resume.

The reason given is for Operational reasons.

 

[mikeE]

. . . . . . . . . . .or too many containers bobbing about.

 

[MikeP]

Operational reasons can mean anything. Sometimes it is because the regulatory authority has withdrawn the operator's licence or whatever is required to allow them to work the route. That happened to the Newhaven ferry a couple of years ago.

I can't find anything on the web on this one though, not even on a ferry spotters' forum.

I've always been too worried to book with a new or unknown operator; at least you know that P & O / Brittany / Sea France / Norfolk Line will still be there next summer.

 

[BeemerMal]

We went with AT Ferries this year because P&O cancelled their crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao last year in January and February. (due to a problems with a refit) Last year AT ferries were not running so we drove down through France.

We have now booked with P&O and keeping our fingers crossed! but I have lost faith in both carriers on this route!

We don't mind the drive down through France (Dover Calais) but the weather can be changeable this time of year and on a cost basis there is little difference between the additional ferry charges against additional fuel and overnight camping.

 

[JohnW1]

We went with AT Ferries this year because P&O cancelled their crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao last year in January and February. (due to a problems with a refit) Last year AT ferries were not running so we drove down through France.

We have now booked with P&O and keeping our fingers crossed! but I have lost faith in both carriers on this route!

We don't mind the drive down through France (Dover Calais) but the weather can be changeable this time of year and on a cost basis there is little difference between the additional ferry charges against additional fuel and overnight camping.

We booked Bilbao - Portsmouth travelling next month with AT&T through ferries.co.uk , who are now attempting to claim that the contract exists only with AT&T.

Having had extensive communication with ferries.co.uk and heard this afternoon form one of their Directors Howard Davies; I am commencing action against them for Breach and Contract and Consequential Loss.

If anyone requires assistance, I am more than happy to co-ordinate a Class Action against them.

Nick

 

[JohnW1]

04:11 PM We booked Bilbao - Portsmouth travelling next month with AT&T through ferries.co.uk , who are now attempting to claim that the contract exists only with AT&T.

Having had extensive communication with ferries.co.uk and heard this afternoon from one of their Directors Howard Davies; I am commencing action against them for Breach and Contract and Consequential Loss.

If anyone requires assistance, I am more than happy to co-ordinate a Class Action against them.

Nick

 

[BeemerMal]

Nicholas...We don't know what the "operational reasons" were for AT Ferries cancelling this service. We only know that they plan to start up again at the end of April.

My booking service (Aferry) managed to swop me to the P&O Portsmouth/Bilbao route travelling out one day later and returning 3 days later than originally planned. A plus was we actually got the P&O ferry at

 

[JohnW1]

Congratulations Mal on your choice of agent. They have acted properly and correctly, and I will certainly add them to my favourites list

You are quite right about small print..BUT there have been test cases that proved the get out clauses were not worth the paper they are written on...

Stops me getting bored anyway

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Thank,s for the info on this. We travelled out on the 18th Jan.

The ferry as delayed due to the high winds and then took a lot longer to make the crossing, not arriving until the Saturday morning.

We are due to return in mid April so if you have any up to date info please post it.

Looks like we are going to be seeking another crossing.

 

[JohnW1]

The AT Web Site http://www.atferries.com/index.html states that due to operational reasons Portsmouth - Bilbao Services have been suspended from Jan 25th - April 27th 2007.

I hope you didn't book with ferries.co.uk as not only are they refusing to rebook with P & O they are not refunding Credit Card Charges or Cancellation Fees. To add insult to injury they also claim their customers do not have a contract with them...

 

[BeemerMal]

Clive...I have checked a three booking sites as well (including the CC) and none will accept any bookings until the first week in May for the AT Ferries service. So if you are returning in April it does'nt look like it will be with them. If anybody gets any updated info please put it on this thread for those, with internet access, already in Spain can read. Mal

 

[BeemerMal]

Nicholas....Have you checked who your payment was made with? If it was the booking agent they should refund you because your contract is clearly with them. If your payment was direct to AT Ferries, then it is them who should refund your money.

My payment was to Gateway Travel, the company that runs AFerry. I actually had to formally cancel my first booking and then make a fresh booking with them for the P&O crossings. This meant I paid twice but Gateway Travel immediately confirmed they would refund the full value of my first booking to my credit card. In all this only took 10 minutes and they were very efficient.

Also, if you booked by credit card tell your card provider what has happened. They can put a stop on payment.

 

[JohnW1]

Hi BeemerMal... Sorry if I haven't explained myself better.

Ferries.co.uk have offered a refund less Credit Card Charges and Cancellation Fee. Naturally I have refused this offer and will be commencing action against them to recover the full cost of my alternative booking with P & O. which is considerably more expensive than my original AT & T Booking.

As Force Majeure does NOT apply in this instance I am not sure on what they wish to base their defence but will let everyone know in case they are placed in a similar situation.

The whole point of booking through an agency as opposed to booking direct is that they have a 'Duty of Care' and unless specifically stated in their Terms and Conditions are obliged to reroute using another carrier. There have been various test cases of this principle involving airlines. In all cases the airlines handling agents ihave been unsuccessful in their defences.

It is NO defence to state that they are merely acting as agents for the carriers.

Anyway it stops me from getting too bored in my retirement, although I could have done without the hassle

 

[Patricia_374236243]

This ferry service was only taking bookings for May 3rd last Monday.

Have you considered going onto their own website to book? mI have a fully amenable, guaranteed sailing for the 3rd May for _213, yes Euros and not the

 

[Patricia_374236243]

Operational reasons can mean anything. Sometimes it is because the regulatory authority has withdrawn the operator's licence or whatever is required to allow them to work the route. That happened to the Newhaven ferry a couple of years ago.

I can't find anything on the web on this one though, not even on a ferry spotters' forum.

I've always been too worried to book with a new or unknown operator; at least you know that P & O / Brittany / Sea France / Norfolk Line will still be there next summer.

This is not a new or unknown firm, only perhaps to yourself.

If you go to their website you will see just how many countries you can visit and at some very sensible prices.

We have used them since the early 90's and NEVER a hitch.

Go ahead and spend

 

[JohnW1]

But if I had booked on AT Acconia's own website , and then had my booking cancelled for 'operational reasons' the most I could hope for is a refund. Thats why I used a third party although I have to admit I chose the wrong one..

Certainly on other forums AT &T are taking a caning, and the fact that they cancelled sailings for several months with no notice suggests that some precautions are necessary.

 

[MikeP]

Operational reasons can mean anything. Sometimes it is because the regulatory authority has withdrawn the operator's licence or whatever is required to allow them to work the route. That happened to the Newhaven ferry a couple of years ago.

I can't find anything on the web on this one though, not even on a ferry spotters' forum.

I've always been too worried to book with a new or unknown operator; at least you know that P & O / Brittany / Sea France / Norfolk Line will still be there next summer.

I did not say that this was a new or unknown firm, I said that "I've always been too worried to book with a new or unknown operator". There is an important difference - an old firm can take on a new route, and for whatever reason they might not stick with it long term.

And I've never heard of a ferry firm called "P70".

 

[MikeP]

This ferry service was only taking bookings for May 3rd last Monday.

Have you considered going onto their own website to book? mI have a fully amenable, guaranteed sailing for the 3rd May for _213, yes Euros and not the

 

[MikeP]

The MV Fortuny didn't have a good start ...

"A Spanish car ferry that was due to sail from Portsmouth to Bilbao but was impounded by UK authorities over safety fears has been cleared to sail.

The MV Fortuny was about to leave Portsmouth on the new route when the Martime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) halted her departure last week".

Full story here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5010496.stm

 

[BeemerMal]

Mike...this is old news, it happened before the service started in May 2006 and was due to firefighting equipment and staff training. The ferry passed by UK Maritime safety checks and it went into full service about 8 months ago. So this report might have nothing to do with the current situation.

What I find strange is there is no mention from any quarter what has stopped the ferry running other than a blanket statement that says it is due to "Operational Reasons"

 

[MikeP]

Yes, I know it's old news. I too am surprised that I can't find anything about it on ferry forums. I have a friend who is a pilot (ships not planes) in Portsmouth, and I have asked him for whatever public domain info is available.

 

[MikeP]

My brother is a lifeboatman and an obsessive ferry spotter. He e-mailed me the following, probably from a ferry news site:

"PASSENGERS booked on a new Spanish ferry route have been left high and dry after the owners today cancelled all sailings until April. Acciona Trasmediterranea (AT), which runs a freight and passenger service from Portsmouth to Bilbao, is diverting its ship, the Fortuny, to another one of its routes in the Mediterranean.

The company stressed it wasn't pulling out of Portsmouth and that the cancellations were due to 'operational reasons'. The announcement still came as a shock, however.

Port manager Martin Putman said: 'It's unfortunate they didn't let us know early and for the customers who booked in the intervening period.' But he added: 'They say they've every intention of coming back to the port in April.'

In an e-mail to customers, Tomas Fernandez, the freight line manager for AT, said: 'We regret to inform you that, due to operational reasons, we shall cancel our sailings from Bilbao/Portsmouth up to the second half of April.' The last sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao took place yesterday.

Acciona began its sailings in May last year amid controversial circumstances. The Fortuny was unable to leave Portsmouth after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found a host of health and safety faults. AT was unavailable for comment".

 

[BeemerMal]

Thanks for that Mike. Without us knowing the "whole" truth it seems the MV Fortuny is still in service in the Med. This leads me only to believe AT are losing money on the Portsmouth/Bilbao route?

I also read another report that P&O stated they only make a small profit on this route and they have yet to make a decision on whether they will renew their lease on the "Pride of Bilbao" which is up for review in October 2007. Perhaps Two carriers on this route cannot be sustained through the winter months!

Although these stories are only conjecture, they don't give passengers much confidence, particularly the freight carriers, who are their bread and butter business. I will most probably revert to Dover/Calais next year.

 

[JohnW1]

I couldn't agree more Beemer Mal. However, while I can understand if not be happy with the Ferry Companies Decision; the way it was handled by ferries.co.uk who didn't notify me of the route cancellation and then attempt to absolve themselves form any kind of liability is absolutely appalling...

 

[MikeP]

My brother is a lifeboatman and an obsessive ferry spotter. He e-mailed me the following, probably from a ferry news site:

"PASSENGERS booked on a new Spanish ferry route have been left high and dry after the owners today cancelled all sailings until April. Acciona Trasmediterranea (AT), which runs a freight and passenger service from Portsmouth to Bilbao, is diverting its ship, the Fortuny, to another one of its routes in the Mediterranean.

The company stressed it wasn't pulling out of Portsmouth and that the cancellations were due to 'operational reasons'. The announcement still came as a shock, however.

Port manager Martin Putman said: 'It's unfortunate they didn't let us know early and for the customers who booked in the intervening period.' But he added: 'They say they've every intention of coming back to the port in April.'

In an e-mail to customers, Tomas Fernandez, the freight line manager for AT, said: 'We regret to inform you that, due to operational reasons, we shall cancel our sailings from Bilbao/Portsmouth up to the second half of April.' The last sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao took place yesterday.

Acciona began its sailings in May last year amid controversial circumstances. The Fortuny was unable to leave Portsmouth after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found a host of health and safety faults. AT was unavailable for comment".

The source is "The News". http://www.thenews.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=455&ArticleID=1987559