SpeedFerries service brought to a halt

THE popular SpeedFerries service between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer has been suspended after French authorities seized the company's only ship.

SpeedOne, was seized in Boulogne on Thursday evening on the basis of SpeedFerries Limited’s debts to the port in relation to port dues and taxes.

In a statement on the SpeedFerries website, chief executive Curt Stavis, said: "The arrest was totally unexpected, as the authorities had given written confirmation that no legal steps would be taken prior to a meeting planned for 10am today (November 7).

"At this meeting SpeedFerries in consultation with its bankers and financial advisors, were to present a proposal for a resolution of the issues relating to outstanding dues and taxes, as well as disputes with the port."

And SpeedFerries have warned that they are unable to say when services will resume 'as the actions of the Boulogne Port authorities are now proven to be unpredictable and inconsistent with their given guarantees'.

Update 26/11/08: What next for SpeedFerries passengers?

Update 13/11/08: SpeedFerries placed in administration

Update 11/11/08: Still no movement of SpeedFerries' ship

Comments

[Sean Clarke]

Sorry to hear about the arrest of Speed 1. I've been a regular user since it started up in 2004 and always been very pleased with their service and hope they'll be back in operation ASAP. This whole business smacks of bigger businesses and other interests trying to shut them down. All the more reason I hope they keep going!!

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Paul, I think many have benefited from the competition on routes across the Channel, so potentially losing one provider of services can't be helpful.
All the best, Craig

[r, cornwell]

to. curt stavis keep going you are the best value and service on the channel, dont let the big boys walk over you.
good luck to you and your staff. r.c.

[malcolm mcvail]

i am very sorry to hear about Speedferries problems,i sincerely hope a realistic solution can be resolved and the regular crossings can be resumed as soon as possible,good luck to Curt Stavis and his financial advisers,m.m.

[Geoffrey Coan]

Bad news for customers. No additional news on the Speedferries website today, and like everyone else I hope it gets resolved soon. I was about to book tickets for a week's break in early December ... think I'll wait a week or two to check that they're back to in operation first.

[Colin Black]

We have used Speed Ferries since they started and have always had excellent service at a fair price. We have booked for a Christmas crossing so hope the problem is solved soon.

[D]

I'd never use SpeedFerries again even if they do get their boat back. Twice now I've been stranded at their French terminal when the boat has had a problem and I've had to pay for expensive last-minute alternative transport back to the UK. Both times their French dock staff were rude and unpleasant. Their customer service team weren't helpful at all, either. They're cheap for a reason...

[Craig McGinty]

Hi all, thanks for the messages and I am trying to draw together the latest information on both SpeedFerries and what other options are available.
All the best, Craig

[Mike Youell]

In some ways I agree with the comments made by D on the 10th. They are cheap for a reason, but that is why people use them. My experiences have been far from satisfactory, jammed in like sardines, being sworn at by loading staff because I was unable to turn my vehicle on a sixpence. turning up at Dover with a few minutes to spare only to find a queue at the one and only booth open and by the time I got to it I was deemed to have arrived late. The air was blue on that occassion. Then the weather, I said I would never buy another season ticket again, but I did, lets face it it can be more convenient when the weather is good it departs on time, and it manages to do the trip in the advertised 50 minutes. Hope all is resolved soon as I still have 5 trips left on my ticket.

[Michael]

Latest news via BBC South East is that Dover harbour board are to issue proceedings against Speedferries in relation to debts though to be in six figures. Kiss goodbye to any unused tickets, can't see this one coming back, more chance of the Titanic picking up the business.

[John Barnes]

Have used Speed Ferries since it started and have found the staff pleasant and polite at all times, if you want a service to arrive on time at its destination like Speed ferries do they have to leave on time, twice i have been stuck in traffic on the hill looking down on Dover with others in the line going on Speed Ferries, phoned them and they held the boat back for 20 min's so we could travel, you never please all the people all the time but they have a dam good try.

[Mike youell]

I am sorry but I find Mr Barnes comments about late arrival incredulous, to say the least. There is a legal obligation for them to supply a head count of passengers to the Dover Harbour Board 30 minutes before the published departure time, [according to the speedferries customer service dept.]. How on earth they would delay sailing by 20 minutes beggars belief. All academic now as the receivers have been called in and they are in administration, blaming the hike in fuel prices as the major cause of their downfall. That might explain why it has, of late, taken just over an hour to reach the destination, probably on economy mode!!! Whoever was in charge of the pricing structure needs to be taken to task as the advertised fare for the last time I travelled, on the 4th. Nov, was £29. How on earth can that be a viable financial enterprise, when you are faced with the inevitable consequencies, which must have been obvious to anyone privy to their day to day accounts.I expect Mr Stavis will melt away now taking at least £130 of my money,[unused season ticket crossings], with him. Rumour has it that they are seeking a buyer to take it as a going concern, as it is not going anywhere at the moment, I would predict that to be wishful thinking, and if it did transpire, bet your life they won't accept oustanding liabilities to existing pre paid customers.

[David Cunningham]

Looks like the end for speedfrries as Dover Harbour looks like it will impound the ship when it finally returns:
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/SpeedFerries-facing-legal-battle-Dover-Harbour-Board-debt/article-467915-detail/article.html#StartComments

[chris greenway]

Some very bitter comments from people over relatively small sums of money that may or may not be lost.I too have outstanding tickets, but my concern is for the future.Without Speedferries the other operators would never have made any changes to what was a grossly exorbitant fare structure; after all what possible grounds can a ferry company have for the huge leaps in price for an extended stay, it makes no difference to their costs whether you return the same day or in three weeks.Those of us who go over several times a year will end up paying a lot more over the years to come when P&O etc seek to recoup their lost income, ultimatly everyone will lose, including users of the other services.Of course the fares were too low, had they been say 50% higher they would have still been very good value and maybe this could all have been avoided.

[Derek Drew]

You speak as you find; I agree with Chris. I've used Speedferries since the service opened and believe it was the best thing ever to hit the cross-channel market. Like lots of others I took up the multi-ticket deal a week or two before the crash and have £360 a stake. That amounts to a crossing and a bit at the old prices! Good luck Curt - lets hope the administrators find a buyer, although I'll not hold my breath..!

[Malcolm and Shirley]

We gave up Eurotunnel soon after Speedferries started, and quickly acquired a warm feeling towards the "brave underdog" that provided us with reliable and comfortable crossings for several years. Sure, they packed us in tight - but no worse than Tesco's carpark - for a price little more than a bottle of champagne! We too have tickets lying fallow for Xmas Day - but the prices probably should have been around £35 ea way in order to survive - so we are sad, not bitter to lose this French property owner's benefit.

[Terry]

It's very sad that Speedferries are in trouble.Without them the other operators will once again be able to charge whatever they want.
I have travelled with Speedferries many times and always found them to be excellent value for money.
Let's hope Richard Branson buys Speed One and cuts the prices to the bone!!!

[Craig McGinty]

It is clear reading over the many comments left by people that SpeedFerries had a popular service.
Many thanks for the messages, Craig

[Viv]

We have used Speedferries this year and last - found everything easy. We were very upset to hear the news. Never had any problems. All staff very helpful. Our last passage in September we had gale force winds in the channel but we all arrived ok. Very sad

[John Tedder]

Think about it= who stands to lose through the demise of Speedferries- the Boulogne traders- who could be in a position to buy the business now it is in administration- the Boulogne traders- just watch that tricolor appear on the side of that boat- 'se battre contre les pirates'

[A Griffiths]

sad that it has come to this ,since the documentry on T.V about a man and a dream to stop the pirates has had his dream cut short by the pirates. we also were regular travelers good luck for the future

[Steve]

What a damned shame!! I, like so many others, used Speedferries when I lived in France and, upon my return to the UK, for frequent return visits to France to visit our many friends. I've may have lost a few quid as a result of their collapse but they've (Speedferries) saved me a fortune over the years I've sailed with them. What a shame, they'll be sorely missed!!

[Ken Davies]

I think it was disgusting that Speedferries did not see fit to warn customers who had bought flex tickets in advance that there was a problem. I think it is equally obnoxious of them to have advised such customers via the UK media (which I only saw when Googling this weekend after receiving the Ernst & Young email) that they should hold on to their tickets. We are now in the position of unsecured creditors who have been swindled by a company whose cash flow we helped to bolster by buying tickets in advance. I agree with the comments above about the good service provided by Speedferries, but this does not excuse their shabby treatment of customers when they got into financial trouble.

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Ken, I am sure there are many people who feel as angry as yourself and I can only advise that you try to claim your money back.
I'm not sure how you've paid for your tickets but if via credit card there are more details here:
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfrenchlife/2008/11/what-next-for-s.html
All the best, Craig

[Mike Youell]

Did Mr. Davies say that he had received an e-mail from Ernst and Young, can I ask if this was in connection with the actual liquidation, or concerning a booking he had reserved??