The unprecedented crisis that the air traffic has gone through due to volcanic eruption in Iceland, has once again enabled the Port of Calais to demonstrate its adaptability and the efficiency of emergency solutions implemented, which permitted to meet the most varied problems in every opportunity.
While the situation in the European sky seems to return to normal, it’s time for a port review: within a week of crisis, tens of thousands of foot passengers have crossed the Channel between Calais and Dover, i.e 20 times more than normal. It was therefore necessary to adapt urgently the service offers to these passengers, mainly British, who have converged to Calais across Europe by train and coaches.
An emergency logistics (implementation of shuttle services between the SNCF railway station and the car ferry terminal, transport reinforcements for the foot passengers on the cross-Channel terminal, adaptation of traffic rules to cope with an influx of nearly one thousand rental cars every day, provision of catering services) which contributed to limiting the effects of the disruption of the passengers transportation between Continental Europe and the British Isles.
Passengers who, despite the difficulties caused by this exceptional situation, have enjoyed the made efforts as the Ambassador of Great Britain, who was in Calais on the cross-channel terminal on the 21th of April, and who said he had « greatly appreciated the efforts made by the French State, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Calais and the City of Calais, which made the situation less difficult." ».
President Jean-Marc Puissesseau also insisted to congratulate the CCI staff but also the State services and the City of Calais, which have contributed by their commitment to facilitate the transit of passengers and minimize their inconvenience.
During the same time, the usual business of the cross-channel port has been secured without any problem with thousands of cars each day, their passengers and a daily average of 5,000 trucks.
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