subject: Freight ferry bookings: How to avoid delays during the passeneger season [print this page] Freight ferry bookings: How to avoid delays during the passeneger season
Summer and the rapidly approaching school breaks can mean only one thing holidays. Any tourist based business thrives in the summer season, and the passenger ferry market is no different. What is good for the passenger market however, has downsides for the freight ferry industry.
Passenger and freight generally form two very distinct divisions of the same ferry company; both with targets to meet and space to sell. Every ferry has a capacity restriction, and they can't sell the same space twice. From a ferry company perspective the passengers are a far more lucrative proposition. Per metre, several cars will fit into the same space as a 16.5m truck, generating varying different levels of increased revenue depending on the route and time of crossing. As an example an average rate for a Dover Calais crossing would be 180 for a 16.5m cargo unit. 4 cars would fit into this space (assuming not loaded on mezzanine decks) at an estimate of 90 per unit, 360 total revenue, 180 more than freight ! Passengers don't get free meals or cabins, they buy drinks, they buy keepsakes in onboard shops and utilise many other onboard facilities to pass the time. And above all, passenger prices can be determined by supply and demand. Peak season prices can often be twice the price, or even more, freight prices remain constant all year round.
Come the holiday season, the lucrative passenger market only means one thing for the freight department operating Ropax ships.less space. And less space can means letting down loyal freight customers whom support the service 365 days per year. As an example, in the height of the holiday season the most popular tourist sailings on the Western Channel may only have as little as 2 or 3 freight spaces to sell! Someone is going to lose out.
Recent years had seen a decrease in passenger numbers, brought on by the rise of budget holidays and cheap package deals. Passenger traffic through the Scottish ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer was down 32% in the 10 years up to 2008. The recession and the volcanic ash crisis have meant a swing back in the ferry operator's favour though. All the operators have launched deals and advertising campaigns to bring in the tourist traffic. In May this year Brittany Ferries reported their passenger numbers were 5 times more than in 2009. Another example, new Irish Sea operator Fastnet Line operating Swansea to Cork claimed that due to the work they were doing with Visit Wales and Tourism Ireland passenger numbers on their route were twice as high as they were anticipating.
So what does this mean for the freight ferry market? Even with the traditional summer shutdown in manufacturing, demand for freight space remains high. Freight ferry customers need to be prepared for frustration, for waitlist bookings, and keep an open mind for other route options. On peak tourist zones, like the Western Channel and the short sea Irish Sea routes, unfortunately passengers will be king in a rising market. Utilising options offered by freight only ferry operators, like Seatruck on the Irish Sea or Cobelfret on the North Sea can be a way to avoid the cars.
Solutions
Think about the time of day you want to travel, crossings that leave during the night may sound less appealing but more freight space will be available. Avoid fast ferries, these have the highest passenger bias.
But above all else, book early, and be open to alternative options.
