Report finds UK ferry safety 'improving'

UK car ferries are now among the safest in Europe, with dramatic improvements in standards over the last four years, according to a survey published by The AA Motoring Trust in conjunction with other European motoring organisations.

There are now 16 million people travelling on ferries sailing to and from UK ports each year. When the study was last carried out in 2000, several UK ferries were among Europe’s worst for safety - but the intervening four years has seen a dramatic reversal.

However, Bert Morris, Deputy Director of The AA Motoring Trust, said that there was a "long way to go".

"Of particular concern are ships on routes in the eastern Mediterranean, where serious safety issues continue to be raised," he added.

The report, which examined 34 ferries, including eight sailing to and from UK ports and some ships operating in the eastern Mediterranean, expressed concerns that passenger safety on some vessels in Europe was "still below standard".

According to the report some of the ferries operating around Greece, home of the 2004 Olympics were among the worst in Europe.

All the UK ferries tested have above-average safety, with three achieving the top 'very good' rating: the Pride of Cherbourg (P&O); the European Highlander, (P&O Irish Sea Ferries); and the Dublin Swift (Irish Ferries).

Five other UK ships assessed are rated ‘good’. These are the Stena Hollandica, (Stena Line); the Pride of Dover (P&O); the SeaFrance Cezanne (Sea France); the Lagan Viking (NorsMerchant Ferries); and the Pride of York (P&O North Sea Ferries).

The top graded ferry of all of those tested is the Excelsior, run by Italian operator Grandi Vavi Veloci.

In contrast, Europe’s worst ferries, rated ‘poor’, are the Flaminia (Italy) run by tirrenia, and the Rodanthi (Greece) by GA Ferries. Two other Greek ships were rated as ‘acceptable’, although three were rated ‘good’ and one was found to be ‘very good’.

(SP)