The British Government is apparently unable to get a grip of transport & those coming to or leaving the Island Nations that make up Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

[Ootohere]

 

Not only the British Government also the devolved ones.   

The SNP that forms the Government in Scotland with the support of the Scottish Greens are as bad.

 

What a incompetent bunch Govern the UK and are overseeing the shambles of their making. 

Ferries, Ports, Airports, Roads and anything to do with people or goods coming and going from the British Isles is a shambles with little change of improving any time soon with the Transport Minister / Secretary, Home, Foreign, Business or any other Minister or Secretaries in office. 

 

It is not only in the South of England, also in Scotland and Northern Ireland for people travelling and goods & it is not all because there was & still is Covid 19 & Lockdown or Brexit but they are part of it.

 

Maybe time that goods and essential travel was given priority coming and going from the UK and those Holidaying were told to not cross the channel for a period of time.

 

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-61024058

http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-61007176

 

Edited 11 April, 2022 by roottoot

[PetrolDave]

I think the boss of P&O Ferries has to accept some responsibility for the ferry problems by sacking 800 seafarers by video call, and causing none of his ferries to run for several days.

 

That's not to take away from the incompetence of Border Force, and Manchester Airport, for the unacceptable delays getting through security - I won't be able to complain about the time it took me 90 minutes to get through Border Control at Chicago O'Hare any more!

[KenONeill]

1 hour ago, roottoot said:

The SNP that forms the Government in Scotland with the support of the Scottish Greens are as bad.

Other than the P&O "service" in the North Channel, anything I can understand as being referred to in your rant is a reserved matter; It is nothing to do with the Scottish Parliament.

[skomaz]

As far as I can make out the issues are private sector controlled as the operating companies are not Govt controlled??

 

The issues therefore seem to be related to lack of staff due to illness or layoff of workforce leading to insufficient people on the ground to operate at sufficient capacity safely??

[Frenchtone]

^  +1

 

Brains in neutral and thumbs up their rears when planning for the resumption of 'normal' services

Edited 10 April, 2022 by Frenchtone

[Ootohere]

@KenONeill  Scottish Ferry Routes and the procurement of ships is a Scottish Government matter and of importance to Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Important for the Scottish and roUK economy and islands and mainland.

As is the Rail Service and Airports like Prestwick. 

The roads in Scotland are important to the Scottish and roUK economy as in getting products around in Scotland, to ports in Scotland and to the south. 

 

So if a rant it is not only at the Westminster Government.  P&O and the Scotland to Ireland Ferries is an issue now, the disaster that is the roads to and from the port of Cairnryan is a long running one and never going to be improved anytime soon if how long the Maybole By-pass took to happen.

Then there is the A9 improvements maybe for the next decade and the A96 maybe never.  

 

Lots of talk, lots of ideas, lots of meetings and travel and working breakfasts, lunches, dinners and job creation about talking.

Plans, costings, and millions for consultants but the use of spades and diggers and manual work  and actual building might or might never happen.

Organising a pith up in a brewery is not for Governments, allowing others to build them is for councils or the Government.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60074377

The comments are usually from those that are not able to see but act blind or deaf.

 

Edited 10 April, 2022 by roottoot

[@Lee]

Apparently the customs GVMS IT system has been down. From what I've read something like for a week.
I've seen images of ferries going to France half full because customs declarations can't get processed in time. Massive queues of trucks in Kent but Calais is surprisingly clear.
Most of these declarations wouldn't even need to be made had the UK stayed in the Single Market and Customs Union. Surprised nobody seems to be pointing that out. 

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1512288384630370307.html
https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/sourcing/haulier-it-meltdown-adds-to-growing-delays-at-dover/666292.article
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61053402
https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/peek-boo-brexit.html

Edited 10 April, 2022 by @Lee

[lol-lol]

1 hour ago, @Lee said:

Apparently the customs GVMS IT system has been down. From what I've read something like for a week.
I've seen images of ferries going to France half full because customs declarations can't get processed in time. Massive queues of trucks in Kent but Calais is surprisingly clear.
Most of these declarations wouldn't even need to be made had the UK stayed in the Single Market and Customs Union. Surprised nobody seems to be pointing that out. 
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1512288384630370307.html
https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/sourcing/haulier-it-meltdown-adds-to-growing-delays-at-dover/666292.article
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61053402
https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/peek-boo-brexit.html

 

There are so many problems it requires a book or a white paper or something substantial and not a paragraph or two in a Skoda car thread.

 

Some of us Logix and Customs analyst have been putting forward quantum changes to the paradigm for some years with such factors as BREXIT, the HGV driver shortage.   We have a UK government that believes that the market economy will solve most things and the other matters can be sorted out by issuing very late missives, throwing a few transferred civil servants in to areas that do not really want to go ie manning Sevington, Ashford.   It is becoming increasingly clear that, except for certain time sensitive food and medicines and the like, better to consider putting goods in containers and send via the container handling system.  Use the container ports, even for Europe short sea, use trains where possible to close the place of destination and truck just for "the last mile" ie last 50 or so miles.

 

The shipping companies and international logistic companies has never made so much money that we have in the last two years with BREXIT and Covid as well as the Far East shortage of container and air cargo space.  Many many extra billions of dollars, Euros, pounds have been made with this situation and we have helped manufacturers and retailers with lateral thinking on these issues ie consolidation, re-routing and even using chartering but you need billions in buying power to do this.  Many companies need to rethink their logistics flows and stop trying to do what was conventional pre BREXIT and even pre-COVID and with the demographics of nobody in the right mind wanting to be an international truck driver in the current circumstance hence the dominance by Eastern drivers so are prepared to suffer such conditions.   Liverpool container port is continue to be expanded to circumvent SE England port and road network issues and Humber can further develop too. 

[@Lee]

 

 

[lol-lol]

24 minutes ago, @Lee said:

 

 

 

 

France has more resources and they planned more for BREXIT than UK did.  They have the land space and this was developed at both Calais and Dunkerque and put tens of millions of Euro in to prep when the UK had hardly cut a turf at the Ashford IBF sites.   France has four ports that feed Portsmouth and the UK effort to set up an alternate port to 24 hour operating Dover ie Portsmouth was truly pathetic with the local council continually where the plans and investment were and being met by nothing but silence by UK Gov.

 

UK gov did pay Brittany Ferrries many millions of Euros to have extra ferries running at peak times but it was throwing good money at any issue that had required proper planning but did not get it. The knock one effect of the delays with the 20 to 25 miles lorry queues is so bad for the reputation for UK companies and having to pay the costs of both the export entries but also the transit costs as they have to put their goods in to EU transit arrangements if they are not going to France but going further afield if they are landing in France first.  Better and more frequent service to Belgium and Holland would be good or, as said above, if the goods can wait a bit use the container system in to Antwerp or Rotterdam, remove the much of HGV driver and rig issues.         

 

Operation Brock is a disgrace with its lack of basic facilities along the A/M20, UK could be criticised for inhumane treatment, shame on us, should have been planned for with loo building every mile of so along this route and a new services area.  What is it going to by like in summer if we get 30/35 C ?    We have two new customs system in the 5 months to add further misery ie ICS and CDS which finally implements security declaration and a new much more complex and expensive to users customs system requiring about double the information to gain entry or be selected for turnout by UKBF or HMRC or one of the other numerous agencies.

 

Edited 10 April, 2022 by lol-lol

[@Lee]

2 hours ago, lol-lol said:

Operation Brock is a disgrace with its lack of basic facilities along the A/M20, UK could be criticised for inhumane treatment, shame on us, should have been planned for with loo building every mile of so along this route and a new services area.  What is it going to by like in summer if we get 30/35 C ?    We have two new customs system in the 5 months to add further misery ie ICS and CDS which finally implements security declaration and a new much more complex and expensive to users customs system requiring about double the information to gain entry or be selected for turnout by UKBF or HMRC or one of the other numerous agencies.

 

I've no idea what happened to all the toilets from 2020. Of course drivers need more than just toilets. I remember when local people were distributing food to drivers because there were no facilities. Who in their right mind would want to deliver to the UK now? Better to go back empty with no paperwork to sort out than spend days in a queue.

 

Quote

Portable toilets are to be installed along the M20 and A20 for lorry drivers stuck in long queues caused by predicted Brexit border delays.

The government says it has drawn up "detailed plans" to line the route with loos before December 31 when cross-Channel transport will enter a world of "unknown unknowns".

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/portable-toilets-to-line-kent-roads-after-brexit-235578/

[lol-lol]

1 hour ago, @Lee said:

I've no idea what happened to all the toilets from 2020. Of course drivers need more than just toilets. I remember when local people were distributing food to drivers because there were no facilities. Who in their right mind would want to deliver to the UK now? Better to go back empty with no paperwork to sort out than spend days in a queue. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/portable-toilets-to-line-kent-roads-after-brexit-235578/

 

I think most toilets were fitted up at the Marston Airfield but that is best part of an hours drive away in North Kent.

 

But for some reason they stacked thousands of lorries on the motorway rather than move that back of the tail who had ten hours plus delays to the Marston airfield site they made them queue on the motorway which is really angering local business and residence who are having huge problems moving around and getting their goods in to continue do their business.  Even empty trailer need customs declaration and may need to submit to paperwork or physical exam.  Returning pallets, packaging etc need declaring.

 

 You can still do your truck journeys to the UK but one has to add the page full of listed additional costs if one is coming to and coming from the UK and if the export or import can withstand all those additional costs then one goes ahead.  Just make sure one factors in the new costs of ICS in the next 80 days and CDS in the next 150 days to ones landed cost to ones client. 

 

Good luck with that.   

 

[Ootohere]

When P&O get the Ferries running between Cairnryan & Larne later this week they will have the Unions trying to stop the sailings by targeting suppliers to P&O of fuel, food and anything else.

At least the traffic through Girvan is nothing like it usually is and just as well if this continues as between Girvan & Turnberry the A77 is closed every night 8pm - 6am 9th April to 22nd other than this coming Easter Weekend.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61059174

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61057113

 

It appears that as usual UK Government Ministers have a problem speaking to Scottish Government Ministers.

 

These muppets in government in the UK regardless of which party they are in need to stop their childish behaviour and as elected members by the general public do the best for the population and work together talking to Unions, Employers and Employers that have acted illegally and that are affecting the economies of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. 

 

 

Edited 11 April, 2022 by roottoot

[cheezemonkhai]

So having just read, it appears:

 

1) Many if not most political types can't organise a **** up in a brewery

2) They don't talk to anyone other than their "mates"

3) Fundamentally, they're all after more power/privilage for themselves and their mates

4) They all seem to have forgotten they serve the people not the other way around.

 

Much as the ferries/transport is a right mess (and it is), sadly I don't see this changing, whoever is in power, be that in westminster, holyrood or even cardiff bay.

[lol-lol]

1 hour ago, cheezemonkhai said:

So having just read, it appears:

 

1) Many if not most political types can't organise a **** up in a brewery

2) They don't talk to anyone other than their "mates"

3) Fundamentally, they're all after more power/privilage for themselves and their mates

4) They all seem to have forgotten they serve the people not the other way around.

 

Much as the ferries/transport is a right mess (and it is), sadly I don't see this changing, whoever is in power, be that in westminster, holyrood or even cardiff bay.

 

West is best, East ie least.  

 

Whilst P&O have their mess and its consequence on Dover-Calais/Dunkirk it is pleasing to say Brittany and Irish Ferries go from strength to strength even with the pandemic.

One can take Irish Ferries from Dover to Calais, I personally still prefer Eurotunnel.

 

Brittany Ferries has just launched the second ship in her LNG powered ie cleaner series with the 40,000 tonnes MV Salamanca........

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ships/cruise-ferries/salamanca/about  It will do mainly Portsmouth to Spain but I expect France sometimes as well.

Crossing Biscay can be fun.  She did have a little breakdown a week ago but is now back sailing well....  https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9867592

Always enjoyed going on board Brittany Ferries vessels either for work or pleasure though I do recall taking on an Open Manta with full front and side skirts meant getting on last but getting off sooner when the ramps were straighter and we did not scrap the underside as does sometime happen on lowered/skirted cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cheezemonkhai]

LNG = Less dirty than shipping oil, as long as the liquified gas hasn't been transported half way across the planet on a boat etc first.

 

IMHO I think a sensible step would be to ensure electric drive for the turbines (No idea if that boat does have), then generate power from LNG, a fuel cell, batteries/solar/backup generator etc.  That's not necessarily any more/less green than LNG, but way easier to remove any source of carbon from the power train in the not too distant future.

 

There are so many companies in the world taking a small and important step to reduce carbon, but tying themselves into the (admitedly less) carbon for the life of product they are replacing. Time for some forward thinking perhaps?

[lol-lol]

1 hour ago, cheezemonkhai said:

LNG = Less dirty than shipping oil, as long as the liquified gas hasn't been transported half way across the planet on a boat etc first.

IMHO I think a sensible step would be to ensure electric drive for the turbines (No idea if that boat does have), then generate power from LNG, a fuel cell, batteries/solar/backup generator etc.  That's not necessarily any more/less green than LNG, but way easier to remove any source of carbon from the power train in the not too distant future.

There are so many companies in the world taking a small and important step to reduce carbon, but tying themselves into the (admitedly less) carbon for the life of product they are replacing. Time for some forward thinking perhaps?

 

About 25% cleaner than marine diesel apparently.  Not sure that is the marine diesel I use to use in on OBO ship's engines as that was residual fuel ie the crude left after all the good stuff had been taken out.  It needed heating to about 100C before it it could be sent to the injectors, sulphur content could be very high, far to high to be allowed to use in the English Channel these days.

It depended where you bought it.  It could be very heavy, an SG well in to the 0.9 to 0.95 range.

 

DO you mean electric drive for the propellers, or axial flow pumps for some stealth ships/subs.  Turbines are normally the propulsion, either gas or stream turbine and power the props via reduction gearboxes.  Our diesel engine were direct linked to the prop as the engine only ran at around 100 to 120 rpm so perfect for prop speed.

 

Electric would add load more weight and tech and take space, like a hybrid car's power plant.  Maybe a loiter engine powered by battery, used sometimes for various purposes but not for full sea cruising speed.  Lots of space for solar on some ships and even a sail can be a help for some free energy.   

 

[cheezemonkhai]

36 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

 

About 25% cleaner than marine diesel apparently.  Not sure that is the marine diesel I use to use in on OBO ship's engines as that was residual fuel ie the crude left after all the good stuff had been taken out.  It needed heating to about 100C before it it could be sent to the injectors, sulphur content could be very high, far to high to be allowed to use in the English Channel these days.

It depended where you bought it.  It could be very heavy, an SG well in to the 0.9 to 0.95 range.

 

DO you mean electric drive for the propellers, or axial flow pumps for some stealth ships/subs.  Turbines are normally the propulsion, either gas or stream turbine and power the props via reduction gearboxes.  Our diesel engine were direct linked to the prop as the engine only ran at around 100 to 120 rpm so perfect for prop speed.

 

Electric would add load more weight and tech and take space, like a hybrid car's power plant.  Maybe a loiter engine powered by battery, used sometimes for various purposes but not for full sea cruising speed.  Lots of space for solar on some ships and even a sail can be a help for some free energy.   

 

I was talking about electric motors driving the tubines.

Fundamentally it's going to have to happen and whilst yes you have two electric motors and probably a small battery to deal with blips/emergency you wouldn't drive them directly from the generators/engine.

 

No transmission would save loads of weight I imagine as they would have to be pretty strong.

 

Either way, things like mandatory plug in and engine off when docked and ways to reduce the reliance on direct drive engines would not be a bad thing.

I mean if they want to stick a reactor to generate steam on a ship, that would do the job, but I'm not sure how popular it would be in the civil world.

 

Essentially if they have electrical driven motors, then the source of that electric can be anything you like. I could be LNG/CNG now, but at the next refit be hydrogen/fuel cell or any other new tech.

[AnnoyingPentium]

On 10/04/2022 at 11:40, roottoot said:

the disaster that is the roads to and from the port of Cairnryan is a long running one

 

Can confirm that this road gets very terrifying when a ferry is in. Something has to be done about the A70 between Ayr and Lanark as well. Was nearly swiped by a lorry's trailer this evening and there's some pretty scary HGV drivers on that road.

Edited 11 April, 2022 by AnnoyingPentium