Dover Harbour Board (DHB) has confirmed that following two berthing trials and some modifications to the ship, mv Joline, Barco de Vapor has been given permission to commence a ferry service from the Port's Eastern Docks ro-ro berths within specified weather limitations. The first service is due tomorrow (Thursday 2 May 2013).
Barco de Vapor has indicated that its principal business will be the carriage of livestock transporters which is in itself a legal trade. The High Court has previously made it clear that DHB must facilitate all legal trades through its port. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for arranging the conduct of all necessary animal welfare checks by its regulatory agency, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), throughout the duration of the service in order to ensure that all of its requirements are met.
DHB respects the positions of all concerned about this particular trade and hopes that the significantly shorter sea-crossing from Dover, when compared with other ports, will at least bring some relative benefit for the welfare of the animals in the transporters.