Congestion in the Port of Dover
- 24 July 2009 16:1126219Apparently, there has been major disruption today following a breakdown in P&O's computer system leading to huge tailbacks. SeaFrance and P&O are having an amusing hissy fit, see below. This is far from the first time that this has happened and I took photos of a similar situation way back in 2004, on this occasion it was SeaFrance that had suffered a computer systems breakdown. The problem is that, once the tailback from one operator's check-in booths reaches back to Compactor Corner, it chokes off the traffic to all the other operators' booths.
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1730481.html
Computer problem disrupts ferries
Problems with a ferry operator's computerised check-in system have led to
traffic disruption and delays for cross-Channel travellers.
The Port of Dover issued a warning to travellers saying the check-in system used
by P&O had failed and there was a backlog of traffic.
The problem led to a row between rival operators. SeaFrance said P&O staff could
not handle a manual check-in.
The computerised system was restored by 0930 BST, P&O said.
But sailings were running an hour late as a result of the earlier problems, P&O
said.
The system was out of action from 0730 BST on Friday.
'Always on strike'
A spokesman for P&O said: "Unfortunately the problems in Dover were caused by a
glitch in our call-handling system, which is used to check in traffic and
allocate lanes in the port.
"Unfortunately, it was the first busy week of the school holidays.
"There is a lot of tourist traffic but not too much freight."
Earlier, SeaFrance said large queues of passengers for its services had formed
as a result of the fault.
"Unfortunately [P&O's] staff are not trained to handle a manual check in," it
said in a statement.
"Although SeaFrance is able to process traffic as normal, long queues into the
port itself are preventing traffic booked with the operator from accessing its
check-in booths."
Traffic gridlock
The P&O spokesman responded: "From a company that never causes problems - their
crews are always on strike and they have a history of causing mayhem in the
Channel - it's a bit cheeky to say the least." - 24 July 2009 16:2126221Unfortunately no one now Is ready to accept responsibilityfor the traffic management when these problems occur.The days when Dover Harbour Board acted as "Honest Broker"between the relevant parties Is now long gone.The entrenched Idea that It Is not my "problem"now pervades any operational glich that happens.The blame game now holds sway, and I can not see this Impasse evolving Into genuine co-operation any time soon.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 July 2009 17:4326233this ends up with magour congestion not only on the a20 but through the town as well.the absence of police on roundabouts also contributes to the mayhem.the a20 was allso blocked on and of from about 3pm yesterday afternoon as well. - 24 July 2009 19:0626244I do like the lines between P&O and Seafrance
Not only passengers queueing, looks like the Norman Arrow being pushed in !
Been nice knowing you :) - 24 July 2009 21:1626253I came back from Canterbury this morning, over 1 1/4 hours in all!!!
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
25 July 2009 06:4526256thats because the roads wernt policed. - 25 July 2009 16:3526277All the polices fault???
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
25 July 2009 18:1226283yes kieth and whos fault is it for not requesting or notefying them.road blocked for a while today. - 26 July 2009 20:5426323oh of course its the police's fault silly me
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
27 July 2009 06:1026335kieth,getting cynacal arnt we.why do we pay council tax for,a part of which gos to paying for the police,which makes them unfit for pupose and answerable to us the genrael public. - 27 July 2009 07:3926340With you on that one Brian, why are there no police on the roundabouts to the docks? The lorries, mostly if not totally the foreign ones, block exits from them by bunching up and ignore the road signage to keep them clear.On the rare occasions when police are there it runs smoothly but without them it snarls up the whole town.
Keith your one liners are getting a bit silly.There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok". - 27 July 2009 08:0826342It would'nt have made a blind bit of difference had the police been there, the computors went down at P&O and no-one knows how to process paperwork quickly enough to keep the freight moving, computors go down and country comes to a standstill, bring back manual labour, and do arthmatic etc, in your head, and do not rely on computors
Sheila - 27 July 2009 09:2026350I think the point being made Sheila, is that if the roundabouts were manned/policed and the lorries stopped from blocking them , the traffic could have moved around the r/abouts better, but they were blocking them, so no one could go round them.
Roger - 27 July 2009 12:1326354Thank you sheila at least u understand.
rainy today aint it
we sometimes moan when its to hot, not sure whichi prefer
Jacqui
thank you for your concerns - 27 July 2009 12:1326355Thank you sheila at least u understand.
rainy today aint it
we sometimes moan when its to hot, not sure whichi prefer
Jacqui
thank you for your concerns - 27 July 2009 17:4026362that made me smile sheila.
why a company is totally reliant on computers is beyond me.
there should be a failsafe manual system, then later all the info put onto the computer. - 27 July 2009 20:0126365Yep - I hope PaulB has a notepad that we can all come around and write on when the website goes down
Been nice knowing you :) - 27 July 2009 21:0826366hardly the same thing.
a ferry company is a retail business that should never turn away customers due to internal problems.
simply writing down the details then logging onto the system later is quite straightforward.
this is proved by seafrance. - 28 July 2009 06:3026369Business demands A plan A, B anc C. Businesses that don't do that are exposed as open to failure or at least the risk of offering poor service.
- 28 July 2009 07:1226374Actually Howard sometimes it can be a good move for a company to turn down business. One company, Clerical Medical, enhanced their reputation by closing to new group pensions because their corporate scheme systems could not cope. As a result they got more individual pension business due to winning respect from IFAs that more than made up for group losses.
I myself ration my business to one new client in order to preserve service standards.
