Ferry still held in Boulogne

A CHANNEL ferry remains in the hands of French authorities as talks continue between its operator and port owners.

SpeedFerries’ only boat SpeedOne – a high speed catamaran – is still being held in Bolougne port, six days after it was seized.

Talks are continuing today between the ferry operator and the Chamber of Commerce of Bolougne-sur-Mer, which is seeking the repayment of taxes and port fees it says are owed by the company.

A spokesman for the chamber of commerce would not comment on the exact figure owed by the company, reported on one French website as several hundred thousand euros.

“It is not the amount. If there is a problem we need to resolve it,” said the spokesman.

Passengers with tickets for SpeedFerries are being offered refunds or future trips when services resume, however the company is only cancelling trips on a day by day basis.

A spokeswoman for SpeedFerries said those whose crossings were cancelled would be contacted the day before they were due to travel.

She said she was hopeful of a resolution between the parties.

Photo: SpeedFerries’ "Speed One" by Remi Jouan