Fuel rises hit Cross Channel Ferry Operators

The world of Ferry Travel is not immune to the unprecedented increase in fuel costs
and over the last few weeks the world has experienced yet another dramatic rise in the cost of fuel. Environmentally friendly diesel has been worst affected and Ferry companies such as SpeedFerries, SeaFrance and P&O are now looking at a scenario whereby the price they pay for diesel is more than twice what they paid last year.

For a long time many operators have borne the extra rise in petroleum costs however most are considering fuel supplements if the price of oil remains at its present high cost. At the end of this week SpeedFerries will have to implement a substantial increase on all ticket types on its Dover-Boulogne service to combat these rises. Stena Line have advised that ticket price rises were 'inevitable' and increased fuel costs has been an attributing factor to DFDS withdrawing its Newcastle - Norway services from September 2008.

The advice from Cheap4ferries is to book now before these prices hit home and drive up the cost of what were once cheap cross channel ferry crossings.

Ferry passengers will be asked to pay a fuel surcharge for the first time because of the rising cost of oil.
SpeedFerries has told its customers that the price of crossing between Dover and Boulogne will go up next month.
Stena Line said a surcharge was "inevitable" next month and will hit people travelling to Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic from Britain as well as on the Harwich to Hook of Holland route.
P&O, another major ferry operator, whose routes include Dover to Calais, will try to absorb the cost. Another operator, DFDS has decided to withdraw its Newcastle to Norway service completely.