Huge back up at Calais, as port is again blocked by strike

Due to continued strike action the port of Calais remains blocked. There no ferries crossing the Channel and the trains are running empty because protesters are blocking the entrances. On the A16 and the A26 the exit to the ferry terminals is closed as are exits 43 and 44 to the Channel Tunnel.

Huge back ups
Lorries are being stacked up on the hard shoulders in both England as well as in France. One UK importer said he currently has 5 lorries waiting in Calais under instruction from the police.

According to the Belgian traffic center there is also a 12 hour wait at Dunkirk. French port authorities say the strike will continue until Thursday.

UK importer/exporter Peter Davis said that there are also a lot of tourists at present waiting to cross both sides of the channel who are normally be offered some form of priority to get them on the way when the strike does finish.

"The French strikers are intent, seeing the problems that they are able to create, to continue the strike until their demands are met. It is at least forcing DFDS around the table again to talk," according to Davis.

"In the meantime we are looking at missed markets - late or no deliveries and we are talking now about very highly perishable goods such as apricots - peaches - plums - nectarines etc."