The Yellow Vests blockages in place at various locations prevent some Irish and English heavy goods vehicles from accessing Cherbourg (Channel) ferries since Sunday.
On Sunday, two ferries were scheduled from Cherbourg (Manche), towards Ireland and another towards Great Britain. While light vehicles made the start, not all trucks and trailers, which often carry perishable goods, did. "Many foreign heavy goods vehicles were blocked at roundabouts, at the entrances to Cherbourg but also in other parts of the department," explains OIe Bockmann, director of Irish Ferries France.
Few disturbances in Ouistreham
Thirty heavy goods vehicles were not able to embark on Ireland, ie "50% of heavy goods traffic". According to the director of Irish Ferries, "several blocked trucks have turned around and left for Calais, the only port where blockages did not impede access to boarding."
In the direction of Ireland, the next ferry from Cherbourg is scheduled for Wednesday. "If jams persist, some trucks and trailers could be diverted to other ports. The problem of Cherbourg is that we are in a cul-de-sac. "
Brittany Ferries, whose ships were sailing Sunday from Cherbourg and Ouistreham (Calvados), fewer problems. "We have less freight transport on Sunday and the number of missing trucks has not been significant. On Monday, there was a 25% drop in freight traffic at boarding for Caen-Ouistreham, " says Claude Pengam, communication officer at Brittany Ferries.
As for the traffic at the Ouistreham ferry terminal, "there was no disturbance. This did not affect port activity, " said Anne Petri-Maillard, of the Normandy Ports Communications Department.