Author Topic: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY  (Read 17033 times)

Offline Phil English

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OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« on: April 18, 2013, 12:40:42 PM »
Ostend Spirit (ex Pride of Calais) has apparently returned to Tilbury after completing only a few months of her charter to TEF. I don't know the reason for this but the signs are ominious. One can't help speculating that she will be laid up again, pending sale for eventual demolition

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Phil

Offline Kai R

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2013, 03:05:16 PM »
it seems that TEF has suspended all operations.

Offline Damien McCarthy

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2013, 06:10:04 PM »
But didn't Trans Europa only charter Ostend Spirit ?

Offline samson46

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2013, 06:46:09 PM »
The rest of the TransEuropa Ferries Ramsgate-Ostend fleet lies idle in Ostend and the company's website has gone blank. Ostend Spirit was chartered from P&O with an option to purchase.

Offline Phil English

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2013, 06:46:54 PM »
But didn't Trans Europa only charter Ostend Spirit ?

Correct, but if they've suspended operations, it means just that. It's irrelevant whether Ostend Spirit is owned or chartered, it's employment has ceased.

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Phil

Offline rd77

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2013, 09:15:28 AM »
One wonders if P&O perhaps wanted to make sure that they got the ship back before it would get entangled in possible bankruptcy proceedings of TEF, or perhaps TEF was behind on payment of the charter fees?
...

Offline Kai R

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2013, 10:03:38 AM »
that is not part of the problem. Under a charter contract, the original owner will always have the right to reposses the ship if the conditions are not met. One can only speculate, but in all probability TEF simply did not pay the rates due.

Offline Alan Green

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2013, 08:59:08 PM »
Some websites are reporting that services were only suspended on a temporary basis on Friday and that they could recommence in week commending Monday 22nd April 2013.

Offline Kyle Larabee

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2013, 02:53:04 PM »
I really hope she don't go for demolition like the Dover :(

Offline samson46

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2013, 04:25:35 PM »
The ramp-less, double-deck design of the Dover-Calais ferries renders them relatively unattractive to other operators (especially in the present economic climate) due to the need to convert them with shipboard loading ramps. Shipbreakers, of course, are not so choosy.

Offline davidships

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2013, 05:47:37 PM »
Some websites are reporting that services were only suspended on a temporary basis on Friday and that they could recommence in week commending Monday 22nd April 2013.
Of course, time will tell.  And there is now some sort of statement
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/TRAVEL-Transeuropa-ferries-cancel-services/story-18770294-detail/story.html#axzz2RD5SJ3vT
http://www.delloyd.be/Article/tabid/231/ArticleID/35089/ArticleName/TransEuropaFerriesvaartnietuit/Default.aspx

But the continued blank website looks suspicious.

Offline Alan Green

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2013, 08:20:01 PM »
BBC Radio 2 travel bulletins are still giving out that the services are suspended due to a technical problem.

Offline Jimmy Poole

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2013, 08:07:34 AM »
On BBC South East News last night a report stated that P&O had taken back OSTEND SPIRIT from charter for non payment of fees. The Company still will not comment their web site has shut down. BBC also reported that the crew on OSTEND SPIRIT were staging a sit-in for unpaid wages.

Offline Alan Green

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2013, 12:20:08 PM »
As at 1320 hrs on Thursday 25.04.13, Ostend Spirit is showing a speed of 3 knots manouvering in Tilbury Dock (according to Marine Traffic)

It was simply a move of berth within the port area.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2013, 02:08:25 PM by Alan Green »

Offline davidships

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Re: OSTEND SPIRIT (EX PRIDE OF CALAIS) RETURNS TO TILBURY
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2013, 04:27:34 PM »
Today's Belgian press:
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio/westvlaanderen/130425_ferries_faillissement
"The company Trans Europa Ferries is to file for bankruptcy after talks with interested parties were been broken off. About 100 people work at the company.

The situation with Trans Europa Ferries has been poor for a while, and the two ships were tied up in the port of Ostend. There were talks with possible Italian buyers, but those have now been broken off.

That is why the Executive Board now decided to act. Subsequently it may be possible for a receiver to find a buyers, but will not be easy.


 

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