The workers’ strike that has brought SeaFrance ferries to a halt all week, is costing the sector around £4m (US$8m). 

At Dover, Kent police implemented Operation Stack and have held freight traffic outside the port since last Thursday (28 February).

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called on the UK government to step in to help resolve the issue and said that delaying trucks is costing around £500,000 (US$1m) each day the strike continues.

FTA’s director of external affairs, Geoff Dossetter said: "The fact that the removal of a single ferry operator can reduce cross-Channel capacity and cause the sort of problems we have seen this week demonstrates the sensitivity of the situation.

He said cross-Channel ferry operators should employ staff on a ‘no-strike’ basis.

"Cross-Channel services are so important to international trade, and to the convenience of travellers, that their personnel should be employed on a no-strike contract basis.

"Every time Operation Stack is implemented, the cost to industry runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds. The overall costs since last Thursday amount to millions, and perhaps we should consider if there is any prospect of compensation in such circumstances.

"The current SeaFrance problem must be resolved as quickly as possible, but we must now consider legal measures to ensure that it does not happen again.

"The operating costs of the vehicles delayed on the M20 are about £40 per hour (US$80). Delays are averaging up to four hours and there are over 3,000 vehicles heading for France each day. This amounts to a daily cost to the transport industry of close to half a million pounds – and we have now had eight days of it."

Source IFW