Maritime union condemns CELTIC MIST ferry owners and operators

Maritime union condemns CELTIC MIST ferry owners and operators
"Fit for scrap" says ITF inspector

Maritime union officials have condemned the owners and operators of a new ferry service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg as 'thoroughly irresponsible'.

Crew members onboard the Cyprus-flagged vessel CELTIC MIST (ex KLAIPEDA - see photo right) are serving in 'appalling conditions' - with some suffering from exposure to CO2 in the engineroom, said Nautilus UK/ITF inspector Tommy Molloy.

He described the 20-year-old ship as 'being fit for not much more than scrap' and said that it should not be allowed to operate in EU waters in its present state.

Irish operator Celtic Link has chartered the vessel from Jay Management of Greece for a daily ferry service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Mr Molloy inspected the ship after receiving calls regarding the state of the vessel and the crew conditions from various contractors working onboard.

'This company deserves 10 out of 10 for optimism but 0 out of 10 for everything else connected with operating a ferry service,' said Mr Molloy from onboard the vessel. 'This ship was supposed to enter service on 15 January 2007. January 2008 would seem more realistic.'

Mr Molloy described the vessel's engine room as 'something of a nightmare' - with a sludge of heavy fuel oil almost a foot deep in the bilges. Engineers were refusing to work in the boiler room because they were concerned about the risk of CO2 poisoning, he added.

'Other crew members had complained about long hours, excessive workloads, poor pay, rodent infestation, and problems with galley equipment. Most of them thought they were joining a ferry service, but in effect they have been trying to do the work of a ship repair yard,' said Mr Molloy. 'They are physically and mentally exhausted.'

CELTIC MIST has been moved from Portsmouth to Southampton for more extensive repair work. The authorities were expected to inspect the vessel with a view to it gaining the required certification to allow it to enter service.( Latest reports indicate the vessel has been refused certification.)

'Unless there is considerable work done on the vessel and unless the crew are treated better than they are presently being treated, then it is simply unacceptable that this vessel be allowed to operate a regular ferry service between two EU countries,' said Mr Molloy.

'The Cyprus Register makes enough claims about the standard of its tonnage. We would hope that they, along with the UK and French port state authorities take a very close look at this vessel.'