EUROFERRIES - LATEST NEWS & GOSSIP

The team at Strife has grown bigger over the past few days with offers of help from many quarters. Firstly, news from our French reporters in Boulogne.
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They have sent me the two pics you can see of a ramp completed in Gare Maritime a few weeks ago, reputedly, in preparation for Euroferries Bonanza Express. Readers should be aware that this part of the harbour in Boulogne is pretty run-down now, with LD Lines having moved to the new 'Hub'. Could it be that like PRCs images of Ramsgate with multi-blocks of sea-side luxury flats, the French have plans for a similar development at Gare Maritime?

It does seem at the moment that those French chaps in Boulogne seem better prepared for Bonanza than poor old TDC at Ramsgate. Our 'Woger' might like to consider this?
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Other news.
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The team in Ramsgate report that Euroferries seem, via their ticket agencies, to be refunding fares to those who booked for the 14th November onwards. That is good news.
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A Strife reporter has managed today, to book a foot passenger crossing on Thursday 26th November for 08:35 hrs! So, the Santa Cruz Harbour departure schedule of last week showing Bonanza leaving there on 22 Nov, gives it 4 days to get to Ramsgate, get checked out and do its stuff. So 'ferry spotters' can get down to Ramsgate on 26th to see Bonanza get on its way? If you want to talk to Fred Olsen in Santa Cruz, feel free to ring 0034-922-6282000.
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If, like a child who has got fed up with finding its milk teeth under the pillow in the morning instead of a £1 coin, and you have lost faith in the 'Tooth Fairy', you might be interested to hear of the explaination given by Euroferries' press release authors of the press release dated 3rd Nov that failed to arrive with anyone until the 10th Nov. A lady at www.goodpublicity.co. uk had this to say in regard to the 3rd Nov date on the press release when asked by a Strife reporter,
"I can't see properly" - " I put the wrong date in the calendar".
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Really? I hope Euroferries haven't paid them yet!
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Another resesrcher beavering away today came up with some business stuff that Bertie doesn't really understand too well and readers might be able to help out with.
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It would seem that http:/www.ukdata.com/numbers/05883830.html lists some stuff about Euroferries Holdings Ltd, with its office registered in a warden assisted flat in Kingston upon Thames; here are some extracts:
30/10/09 First notification of strike off action in London Gazette (Section 652)
25/06/09 Second notification of strike off action in London Gazette (Section 652)
13/03/09 First notification of strike off action in London Gazette (Section 652)
09/03/09 Application for striking off.
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Bertie is having a whip -round to raise some readies to pay for the fees to find out who is making these Section 652 notifications; it is all so intriguing!
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Edna, our tea-lady (expansion has meant that we can employ her again) said to me today, "Mr Biggles, wot I carn't understand is why these Euroferries people aint advertismentising orl over Thanet in The Fannit Times, The Gazettte , Your Fannit, on KMFM, Invctor and why they aint 'aving a write old knees up wiv, Sandy and Woger and Ladybird darn in the 'arbour to send this Bonanza pussy- thing on its way to Bogloynne on the 26th in some sorta style? My old man orways said, Edna, old gal, you gotta specerlate to acoomoolate"
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How do you answer such a profound question?

EUROFERRIES - TIME FOR TDC TO TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON?

Well what are we all to make of a Press Release dated 3rd November shown below?
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Is a simple chap like Bertie to understand that Euroferries had issued a Press Release a week ago, saying that this coming Saturday's sailing (14th Nov) out of Ramsgate was not going to happen and no one was given it? Was there any info on their web-site a week ago? Did they stop taking bookings a week ago?
I for one, have had enough of dis-information over this whole ferry business. This ferry service has been hailed by and expected by, our Thanet South MP, TDC, The IOTG, many local traders and businesses since the beginning of this year and expectations have been dashed time and time again. The enthusiasm for Euroferries and the arrival of The Bonanza Express has been boundless and at times beyond what common-sense dictates!
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Sorry, TDC and Cllr 'Woger' but a 'no comment' today is just utterly unacceptable!
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We expect and should get a clear statement from Our Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development (let alone recent responsibility for Ramsgate Harbour), about this whole issue. Perhaps 'Woger' needs to be aware that rumours are circulating that Euroferries did not get Bonanza Express on its way because he and TDC were incapable of organising and sorting the harbour and facilities out, despite bonds having been placed, monies paid to TDC and legal agreements having been signed. If this was not the case, then he should say so and tell TDC's electorate exactly what has happened and why it has all gone wrong, yet again; he does after all represent us all in Thanet as Deputy Leader, doesn't he?
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There are a number of players in this fiasco and whose fault is it that yet another start has been delayed: Euroferries (and their financial backers)?; Gare Maritime in Boulogne?; Fred Olsen Ferries? or 'Woger' at TDC? or could it be Somali Pirates?

EUROFERRIES - NO FERRYMAN TO PAY, IN FACT NO FERRY AT ALL!

What the 'Ferrymen' have to say:

“Euroferries regrettably has to delay the launch on the 14 November launch due to events outside our control.

“Euroferries has promised to resolve this matter swiftly, allowing the service to commence as soon as possible. A further announcement will be made shortly.

“All bookers affected will be contacted by email for a full refund and will be offered a free upgrade to first-class on future bookings when quoting a previous booking number for an alternative date of travel.

“As advised, all reservation monies are held in escrow.
“Euroferries apologises for any inconvenience caused.”

Well, this news does not surprise the team at Strife. This is the 3rd non-appearance of Euroferries in Ramsgate but who is to blame?
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Our own team watching Ramsgate, since last week, has reported that the media are pursuing the story with Glenn Campbell and Inside-Out team from BBC South-East in Ramsgate yesterday and today and Saul Leese of The Gazunder sniffing around this morning.
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Meanwhile TDC and 'Woger' are in silent mode with 'No comment' being the order of the day.
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It's nice that Fred Olsen seem happier to talk to Strife investigators. Their legal department said this morning that Fred Olsen doesn't lease fast cats, which was interesting and a few minutes ago Fred Olsen staff in Santa Cruz confirmed to me that The Bonanza Express 'eez still in the 'arbour' but could not tell me why it was not on its way to Ramsgate. 'You will ave to talk with Euroferries about what is going on'. They seemed to think it was going elsewhere and could not confirm whether it had EUROFERRIES painted on it.
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I am concerned that not only has Thanet been let down by Euroferries but it would appear that many who have booked for holidays will also be let down. Will they get their money back? If any reader has booked and is awaiting repayment, I am sure our local press and the BBC would be delighted to hear from you.
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Is this a TDC cock-up or is it down to Euroferries? How much has this ongoing saga cost Council Tax payers in expenses, travel, phone calls, letters, meetings and TDC Officers' time. Did TDC really carry out a full 'diligence' check into Euroferries?
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I hope this will be the end of the saga and that the Bonanza Express has a happy and lucrative future perhaps with Fred Olsen in calmer, warmer climes. Clearly the treacherous and stormy waters in these parts need a special breed of ferrymen.

EUROFERRIES - HAS THE FERRYMAN PAID ANYONE?

Adem (Big Blog) and ECR seem to have a problem with a director of Euroferries on their case.
My issue this evening is the pics on Euroferries web-site and in last Friday's IOTG and the fact that nothing seems to have been prepared at Ramsgate Port for the ferry service to run in 6 days time.
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The pic above, taken by a Strife staff investigator in the past 24 hrs, shows the facilities at Ramsgate Port for Trans Europa and no sign of a Euroferries set-up. If you visit Euroferries website, you will see a pic of Bonanza Express in Euroferries livery, but you have to realise that the pic was taken in the summer and that the 'Euroferries' bit was painted out again! If info on www.thanetonline.blogspot.com is accurate, Bonanza E has had a very recent re-paint job.
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The pic below shows how other facilities at Ramsgate are ready for Euroferries; steel shutterring and no evidence of the old Sally Lines base prepared with its 'Tax Free' shop for Euroferries
So, ok, Bertie does not wish to speculate about Euroferries backers or its financial position but is slightly alarmed that it would appear from our investigations in the past 24 hrs that:
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1. No dredging has ocurred to enable Bonanza Express to berth.
2. No berth is yet ready to receive Bonanza Express.
3. No preparations are obvious that Euroferries reception at Ramsgate are in place.
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The now redundant site at Boulogne (Gare Maritime) also shows little preparation for a 10 year old Incat ferry to do its stuff there. So what are we to make of this?
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Could it be that TDC at Port Ramsgate has been so incompetent that it has failed to prep up for this wonderful ferry service and that the French across the 'ogin' have been similarly incompetent? Before you suggest that 'How can the French be as incompetent as TDC?', might it not be the case that Euroferries have not placed financial bonds with the relevant authorities in advance to pay for the prep work?
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In other words, it might not be the case of 'Who has paid the ferryman?' but perhaps 'Who has the ferryman paid yet?'. Are we to hear from Cllr Roger Latchford OBE in the next few days the following via Cheryl Prendry at TDC:
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"Despite TDC's positive and pro-active encouragement of this venture and payments received by TDC in advance from Euroferries to get Ramsgate ready, we have cocked up as usual, and there is no way that Bonanza Express can berth in Ramsgate or even get into the harbour. We apologise to Euroferries and all those who have booked on the 14th November that we have failed to sign post, mark out lanes or have a terminal ready despite this service being planned to start in March then August of this year."

MAYOR OF MARGATE VISITS THANET MAGISTRATES COURT TODAY

Some of you may have missed a snippet of Thanet gossip on www.thanetobserver.blogspot.com
on Fri 28 August 2009.
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It would appear that Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell (CONSERVATIVE), Mayor of Margate, Dane Valley Ward Cllr, Member of Planning; General Purposes;Licensing Board and Conservative Chief Whip is in a spot of bother.
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I must admit to not supporting the idea of Margate Charter Trustees Conservative Cllrs, electing him for Mayor back in May, instead of that excellent Dane Valley Ward Cllr, Mike Jarvis. ( See: http://thanetstrife.blogspot.com/2009/04/time-to-make-mayor.html)
I wonder if Margate Charter Trustees Conservatives are now biting their nails?

It would seem that The RSPCA has brought a case against him, accusing him of causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten. 'Our Mayor' appeared this morning before Thanet Magistrates in Cecil Square to answer this charge.

The case was not heard but adjourned. It would seem that as The Mayor of Margate, he has pleaded that he is too well known by Magistrates in Thanet and has requested a hearing elsewhere. My understanding is that the case will be heard by Medway Magistrates at some date in the future. I trust our local press will keep us informed, albeit long distance, from Medway in due course.
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It is interesting how Margate Charter Trustees describe the Mayors of Margate and their status:
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"At one time a Mayor was, by virtue of his office, a Justice of the Peace and as such was required to take an Oath of Allegiance. This is no longer so but in many places this custom survives and such an Oath is still taken at Margate."

THE SAGA OF TDC's 'SCHMIDT MACHINE'

Readers might need some light relief from the will it/ wont it Euroferries Bonanza Express story, although that said the 'Schmidt Machine' seems to have cost the tax-payer a considerable amount of money. That said, what has the Euroferries business cost us so far?
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My picture shows a 'Schmidt City Jet 6000', one of which, I have been informed by a TDC employee, was purchased in 2003. If you have been fortunate enough to see it operating in Thanet, you will have been looking at £94,000 or so of kit. However, rumour has it that this bit of kit doesn't do a good job; it polishes stuck gum on the pavement rather than removing it and if you are silly enough to stand to its rear you are likely to be sprayed with regurgitated dirty effluent.
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I am interested in this tale because it appears to be yet another example of utter waste of tax-payers' money by TDC. This machine has cost us £15,000 per year so far to operate. It would appear to have been a dubious spending of Regeneration Budget money authorised by the then Cllr Ingrid Spencer( now 'Our Leader's choice in Dane Valley as a candidate), without reference to any Committtee; without following Contract Procedure Rules and without really grasping that staff needed training to operate it.
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Sources tell me it has spent more time in the depot gathering dust than keeping our streets clean, mainly due to lack of trained staff to operate it. If it had been doing its stuff for 30hrs per week for 50 weeks of the year for 6 years, the capital cost would be down to just over £10 per hour now. The real question is, how many hours has it done? This Schmidt machine is more likely to have cost us over £100 per hour for each hour it has actually been operated!
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Is that really a good use of regeneration money?

EUROFERRIES ALL SET TO GO IN RAMSGATE?

With 12 days to go untill the first Euroferries sailing from Ramsgate by The Bonanza Express, a staff photographer dropped into Ramsgate Port this morning to take some pictures of the preparations afoot for the 'dedicated Euroferries terminal'.

All a bit odd really. No signs; no evidence of a dedicated terminal; no reserved Euroferries lanes; no staff running through procedures etc etc. Clearly a lot will have to be done in the next 12 days. All a bit disappointing as we had hoped to report on a Euroferries set up like the Trans Europa chaps shown in the pic below.
Tried to make a reservation and couldn't on line but got flicked to a general ferry ticket site but no mention of Euroferries. I then started wondering.
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Does anyone know of staff recruited to run Euroferries operation in Ramsgate? Has anyone started training? Have uniforms been decided yet? When will the dedicated terminal be ready? Has anyone succeeded in booking a journey? Where is Bonanza Express? Have any plans been made to have training runs across the briney so ferry skipper and crew practice getting into and out of berths and the hazardous business of crossing the busiest shipping lanes in the world?
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As Bertie isn't a jolly jack- tar sort of guy and barely knows starboard from port, he can only assume that the way ferry services get set up is all in a last minute rush or if that is not the case, then is the 14th November going to see Bonanza loading and departing?
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Rumour has it that BBC South East are taking an interest in the start of the service and Maritime affairs at Ramsgate in general, as their Inside-Out Prog visited last spring and chatted to 'Woger' down at the Port. Well we know TDC have had all sorts of odd financial 'goings on', going on, in its Maritime Services in general recently and at Ramsgate in particular, with a major sacking involved but with no explaination, so a continuing muddle is to be expected perhaps. Hope Beeb doesn't ask too many embarrassing questions this time round.
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Off to LD in Dover instead, as they seem cheaper and at least have real ferries up and running; rather glad I couldn't make a booking with Euroferries as I still have nagging doubts; this is after all the THIRD start date so far this year - "Left hand down a bit"!